NBA 2K26 Global Release Times, Editions, Prices & Cover Stars Revealed

The wait for NBA 2K26 is almost over, and 2K has officially confirmed the global launch schedule for standard editions. 2K Series is known for its high standard in incorporating realism into sports simulations, and this year, the company is all set to raise the bar with NBA 2K26. Therefore, this time around, players can expect smoother controls, sharper shooting, and animations that feel closer to real-life basketball than ever before. Every dribble, crossover, and dunk has been carefully tuned to capture the feel of the game on the court.

For those who were ready to get on the court early, 2K had made early access available for the players from the selected regions, which let some players start a week prior to the standard launch. Since that period has ended, fans are eyeing on global release times. In case you don't miss the dates, here is everything you need to know about the NBA2K26 release times, region-wise.

NBA 2K26 Global Release Times

The official worldwide release date for NBA 2K26 is Friday, September 5, 2025. Players who own either a device from PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, or the upcoming Switch 2 will be able to play the game at launch. However, as mentioned earlier as well, fans who have pre-ordered the Superstar Edition or the Leave No Doubt Edition will get a chance to play games a week prior, which has already started on August 29, 2025.

Early Access Release Times (August 29–30)

Standard Release Times (September 5–6)

Interestingly, this year, 2K has decided to roll out a synchronized launch window, so global players can hop into the game nearly at the same time, a welcome change from staggered past releases, as noted by fans.

All Editions in NBA 2K26

NBA 2K26 is coming in four editions, giving fans plenty of choice depending on how deep they want to go.

• Standard Edition

  • $69.99 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Switch 2)

  • $59.99 (Nintendo Switch)

• WNBA Edition

  • $69.99 (physical only, exclusive to GameStop in the U.S.)

• Superstar Edition

  • $99.99 (digital only, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

  • Includes 7-day early access + 100,000 VC

• Leave No Doubt Edition

  • $149.99 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

  • Includes 7-day early access, 100,000 VC, and bonus digital content

  • Available only until September 7

Not to mention, as much as the main game, the cover athletes of NBA 2K26 are making headlines as the main cover features Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar who’s become one of the league’s most exciting players. Other editions spotlight additional basketball icons: Carmelo Anthony and Angel Reese, the rising star from the Chicago Sky Edition cover.

For players who want to sharpen their MyTeam strategies ahead of launch, guides like NBA 2K25 How To Evolve Cards still remain useful references, giving fans a head start in understanding progression mechanics before diving into NBA 2K26.