NBA 2K23 is around the corner, and the build-up to the launch is quite exciting! If 2K planned to get the gaming community extremely excited, it works because we have just seen information regarding some impressive AI gameplay improvements.

According to the Courtside Report published by 2K, for next-generation platforms, there's a lot to look forward to when it comes to AI on both ends of the court.

As one of the biggest video game franchises, NBA 2K strives to give the gaming community a worthy realistic basketball experience. The upcoming release will be nothing short of remarkable after learning about the enhancements.

So without any further delays, let's look at some of the upgrade highlights that Da Czar and the AI engineers at 2K have made.

Read more: NBA 2K23: Release date, cover, editions, price and all you need to know


NBA 2K23 AI gameplay improvements

NBA 2K23 developers have pulled out all the stops to improve the game's various features, especially now that next-gen consoles will have enhanced AI.

For the upcoming game launch, developers added new features to the Pro Stick, which comes new with tricks and moves on offence, the Rim Hang. In this piece, we will look at the offensive and defensive improvements published in the Courtside Report.

Let's take a look at the defensive improvements first.

NBA 2K23 Defensive improvements

In the report, developers note that there was a lot of rewriting of most of the game's biggest defence systems. For that reason, in this year's game, they have spent time fine-tuning the previous defence systems to ensure effortless delivery and smooth play.

"From transition defence, where we can identify when the ball handler has been picked up, allowing the anchor to leave the paint and get to their man, to making the “NO THREES” setting work as intended," the developers noted, adding that "Rotations are sharper and more varied; pick and roll defence is tighter and smarter; and this year, players can choose to turn off drive, pick and roll. We’ve also improved cutter help individually as well to have more control over their Defensive Focus settings."  

NBA 2K23

Performance-based defensive adjustments are included in NBA 2K23. In the past, the developers would make tweaks depending on their knowledge of the leading scorers' offensive points and assist totals.

We also need to bear in mind that, for them, because it wasn't immediately clear how a particular player gained that amount of points and assists, the AI's modifications had to be general. Their refactored success and action engine this year can pinpoint precisely how scorers are causing harm.

"This engine can decipher post-scoring, off-screen actions, isolations and whether or not players are getting buckets at the rim. It can detect spot-up shots vs. players who like to come down and fire up long distance threes after a few dribble moves. Each of these scenarios have their own defensive adjustments that the AI will automatically roll out depending on how efficiently the scorers are making shots. As a user, with our adaptive engine turned on, these adjustments will automatically be made for you. But if you choose, you can also make your own adjustments using the defensive settings."

Until the developers are confident that the opponent can genuinely take advantage of a given opportunity, the defensive AI delays delivering assistance.

Compared to NBA 2K23, players may notice far less assistance at the start of games as their colleagues wait to see if their opponent can genuinely take advantage of an open lane.

"The defensive AI is stingier with sending help until we know the opponent can actually take advantage of a particular opening. So at the beginning of games, you may notice drastically less help as your teammates wait to see if your opponent can actually take advantage of an open lane compared to last year. Of course, you’re free to turn off the auto adjustments and make your teammates help right from the jump if that’s the way you want to run your defence." 


NBA 2K23 Offensive improvements

The offensive AI's usage of its arsenal of dribbling moves to attack is the first issue the feature's developers sought to solve this year.

  • They aimed to increase the AI's aggression while planning movements and its deliberateness when selecting moves depending on the circumstances.
  • The new defensive shading scheme has improved the AI's capacity to comprehend the defender's positioning.
  • AI ball handlers can better analyze the scenario and choose the most effective move from their repertoire of options.
  • They now know how to position the defender, anticipate the defender's counter, and use the right combinations to exploit openings depending on the defender's habits and move set.
nba 2k23 the city

The developers engineered the AI to favour the earliest attack opportunity, or what they describe as the first move attack priority, to confuse the timing of the AI's drive efforts and increase attack effectiveness.

"In addition to making the AI ball handlers attack more intelligently, we also wanted to make sure they replicated their real life counterparts authentically. So, we built a brand new signature AI attack system that allows us to assign all of the stars a dynamic signature attack package that contains up to four signature combinations. Each single combination can contain up to 4 single move sets or two combo move sets. We can even create variations that allow for AI move progression." 

They created a brand-new signature AI attack system to provide each star with a dynamic attack package with up to four signature combinations.

Up to four single move sets or two combo move sets can each be included in a single combination. The developers can even make modifications that allow for AI move evolution.

NBA 2K23

Image from Sporting News

The user may choose to assault if he is still in an excellent protecting position. For instance, they may mix Kevin Durant's between-the-legs cross with a step-back between the legs. In the same motion, he can strike between the legs or after the between the legs cross.

The AI's performance of the pick and roll is the next significant advancement. Depending on the ball and how they are being defended in NBA 2K23, the roll man knows how to maintain a spacing connection with the ball handler and may alter their roll path to the basket.

In addition, open vs covered passing lanes, alley-oop possibilities, and lob ball options over the top of the defender have all been much better explained to the AI passer.

In 2k23, you will need to pay attention to scorers who emerge from ball screens. You'll see AI scorers employ a variety of reads to score on the pick and roll since the AI is very aware of what shots are available based on defensive coverage.

NBA 2K23
  • Dynamic game plans on the coaching end provide the AI flexibility in how it chooses to design its offences from one game to the next.
  • Points per possession for play types, freelancing pick and roll, freelance post, and freelance isolation actions will be used by AI coaches to monitor efficiency.
  • Additionally, they will keep tabs on isolated and post mismatch efforts and mid-range and three-point shooting possessions.

"On the coaching side of things, dynamic game-plans give us flexibility in how the AI chooses to scheme their offenses from one game to the next. AI coaches will track efficiency by looking at points per possession for play types, freelance pick and roll, freelance post, and freelance isolation actions. They’ll also track mismatch attempts for isolation and post, as well as mid-range and three-point shooting possessions."

That's all we know so far regarding defensive and offensive AI gameplay improvements; you can check out the full report here.

NBA 2K23 is set for release on 9th September and will be available on PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.


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