That is where virtual money (VC) comes into NBA 2K Coins play, however again. It is not surprising that microtransactions mess every corner of NBA 2K21--and for me personally, I have moved on from being outraged to sense despondent. The game borders on a pay-to-win model, with progress tracks which are paced in ways to nudge you towards paying VC instead of earning it.

Improving your stats still relies on paying VC, and the costs increase exponentially the farther you update a certain skill. There are loads of nice cosmetics to make, and it is true a whole lot of fun dressing up your participant in new kicks and the flyest Nike and Adidas apparel, however their steep VC costs suck the life from their experience.

VC permeates the MyTeam mode again, too. This mode acts as a fantasy-esque build-your-own-team endeavor in which you make card packs to unlock players one of a roster that spans numerous NBA eras. MyTeam can be captivating for long-time basketball lovers such as myself who have Allen Iverson teamed up with Anthony Davis and can take this dream team roster into single-player or multiplayer games.

However, the loot-box nature of making card packs--that can be acquired by gradually earning MT points through fresh avenues such as challenges, seasonal events, and turning in cards that are useless, or by buying them with VC--leaves the reliance on VC unsurprisingly egregious.

MyGM, which places you into the shoes of a group's General Manager, is a style worth mentioning. You call the shots for everything from roster moves, trades, ticket prices, promotion, and personnel decisions in hopes of Buy NBA 2K MT building a successful franchise.