2K Release Schedule Essentially Confirms This Year’s Next-Gen Plans

It has been widely expected that 2K Sports would release NBA 2K14 on the PS4 and next Xbox which would likely come shortly after first releasing on the 360 and PS3. However WWE 2K14 – considering the acquisition of the license from THQ who had been battling financial trouble, the continued development from Yuke’s studio, and the even tighter time frame between the two – appeared unlikely to make that same fluid transition. The quarterly financial report from Take Two has basically confirmed those are the plans for later this year. 

WWE 2K14 has been declared as an Xbox 360 and PS3 title (out 10/29) while NBA 2K14 (10/1) carries with it the “TBD” tag. There would be no reason to cover up the platforms it was coming to other than to push off an announcement related to the next-gen consoles. Indecision regarding a PC or Wii U version, or even having determined they would walk away from one or both, would not require such secrecy at this stage. In fact that has generally been the way 2K has revealed information of the sort – through deliberate omissions in the financial reports.

2K will be facing a difficult situation this winter as they attempt to sell both a current and next-gen edition of NBA 2K14. They’ll have to provide justification for fans to buy both and dazzle those who might be waiting for the new systems without making the current-gen seem inadequate in comparison. It’s a delicate balancing act that EA Sports will too be facing with Madden and FIFA. In addition they may have competition in the form of NBA Live at launch.