You buy the game and still lose the single-player mode. 2K has announced that NBA 2K25 will shut down its servers at the end of this year, and with them MyCareer, the one-player story mode, becomes unplayable. “Buying a game does not mean owning it” is a hot topic in the community once again.
Quick facts
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 30, 2026 | Delisted from digital stores |
| December 31, 2026 | Game shuts down |
| January 1, 2027 | Online modes, MyCareer and MyTeam are gone, VC cannot be earned |
| Still playable | Play Now, MyNBA, The W, MyWNBA |
What did 2K announce?
According to 2K’s announcement as quoted by ComicBook and This Week in Video Games, NBA 2K25 will shut down from December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, players cannot play online or enter the online modes, MyCareer and MyTeam are gone, and no more virtual currency VC can be earned. The Play Now, MyNBA, The W and MyWNBA modes remain playable, but every feature that needs a connection to 2K’s servers, including online play, online tournaments and community sharing, disappears.
The game is delisted from digital stores from October 30. People who already bought it can still redownload it. OtaHub has not seen any refund information for VC already purchased.
Why does MyCareer die too?
MyCareer is the mode that takes your created player from rookie to star, with a story, and is mostly played alone. But its progress is tied to VC, a virtual currency that is both earned in game and sold for real money, and to 2K’s servers. When the servers go down and VC can no longer be earned, the mode can no longer run, even if you only play by yourself.
This is not the first time: NBA 2K24 was also delisted and shut down at the end of 2025, following the same cycle of a little over two years after release. NBA 2K25 launched in September 2024.
“Stop Killing Games” and the question of ownership
The “Stop Destroying Videogames” campaign by European players, which demands that publishers keep games playable after ending support, has collected more than 1.29 million valid signatures. On June 16, 2026, the European Commission rejected a mandatory law but said it would work with consumers and publishers until the end of 2026 to improve industry standards. The NBA 2K25 case is exactly the kind of example this campaign opposes.
OtaHub’s take
For a basketball game that releases a new edition every year, shutting down the servers of the old one is understandable. But making an entire single-player mode die with it just because it is tied to a virtual currency is a design choice, not a necessity. If you are about to buy a sports game with a virtual currency, remember: the part you pay for may live only about two years.
FAQ
When does NBA 2K25 shut down its servers?
The game is delisted from digital stores on October 30, 2026, shuts down on December 31, 2026, and from January 1, 2027 the online modes are no longer playable.
What can you still play in NBA 2K25 after the shutdown?
According to 2K’s announcement: Play Now, MyNBA, The W and MyWNBA remain playable. MyCareer, MyTeam, online play, online leagues and community sharing will be gone.
Why is MyCareer shut down when you play it alone?
Because MyCareer is tied to the virtual currency VC and to 2K’s servers. Once VC can no longer be earned and the servers cannot be reached, the mode no longer works.
Can I redownload NBA 2K25 if I already bought it?
Yes. Existing owners can still redownload the game after the delisting date, but only the offline modes listed above are playable.
Sources: 2K (via ComicBook, This Week in Video Games), Operation Sports, Games.gg, Video Games Chronicle, European Commission.