PlayStation & Xbox Game Will Officially Shut Down December 31

PlayStation is planning to abandon physical games in the next few years, a move that’s upset and frustrated gamers. Now, Sony and Microsoft are highlighting one of the biggest issues with digital-only games by delisting one of the most successful games in the last few years.

NBA 2K25‘s multiplayer modes will be completely shut down on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on December 31, presumably to push players to their new title, NBA 2K27. While the server shutdown would be bad enough on its own, the game’s single-player campaign will also be essentially unplayable, rendering the game worthless after just 2 years.

NBA 2K25 Is Officially Shutting Down on PS5 and Xbox

Image via 2K

Released in October 2024, NBA 2K25 is one of the most recent entries in the annual NBA 2K series. Like all other games in the series, it’s a realistic basketball simulator that allows players to choose from and control real-world NBA athletes.

NBA 2K25 is currently available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. However, this is all about to change. On October 30, gamers will no longer be able to purchase digital copies of NBA 2K25 on Nintendo Switch. Then, on December 31, all multiplayer features across all platforms will be shut down.

NBA 2K25 is a game almost entirely defined by its online multiplayer scene, and this shift will keep most fans from having any reason to ever return to it. Even some single-player modes, like MyCareer and MyTeam, require a connection to 2K’s soon-to-be defunct servers.

Some single-player modes will remain playable for fans who already own the game, including Play Now, MyNBA, The W, and MyWNBA, but this is hardly enough to make the game warrant another look. 2K is all but directly telling consumers to come pick up the latest entry in the series, NBA 2K27, instead.

PlayStation has doubled down on its all-digital future, but gamers don’t seem convinced, and this latest delisting is a clear example of why players want to have access to physical games. Many are also pushing governments to take action against these kinds of server shutdowns, with movements like Stop Killing Games fighting to keep games online.

To be sure, this is a case of a series that’s growing and evolving. Over 150 Million units have been sold, and the NBA and 2K have recently become closer than ever, forming Take-Two Media, a “modern entertainment company that will bring fans and players together through competitive gaming, social-first content, original programming, and live events.”

“We are immensely pleased to continue our longstanding, highly successful partnership with the NBA and the NBPA and look forward to building upon the record-setting achievements that we have accomplished together,” Take-Two Interactive chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick said.

“We are excited to unveil NBA Take-Two Media and look forward to seeing how it will create an entirely new and multifaceted NBA experience for our communities.”