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| The setup for the Philippine launch of NBA 2K25 inside the NBA Store at the SM Mall of Asia (Image Source: Manila Standard/NBA Philippines) |
Standout eSports gamers and local basketball and NBA 2K fans gathered at the SM Mall of Asia recently for the official launch of the NBA 2K25, the most anticipated NBA video game held at the central court inside the NBA store. The event revealed the new features of the game presented by 2K Games Senior Marketing Manager Wayne Ng, NBA Philippines Senior Manager for Merchandising Pat Giron, NBA Store Philippines Chief Operating Officer Fatima Pilares, and notable members of the Philippine eSports community.
A series of exhibition games were held in a Blacktop format, showcasing the skills of top local eSports players and personalities. The first exhibition game paired UAAP Season 87 eSports tournament champion Paolo Medina with TV personality Vince Velasco against UAAP eSports Tournament runner-up Keegan Yap and radio DJ Gino Quillamor. Yap and Quillamor won the match with a close score of 11-9. They then faced off against eGilas members Miguel Hubillar and Paolo Madronio who eventually took the win with a score of 11-6, demonstrating the competitive spirit and talent present in the local gaming scene. Another highlight is the introduction of the Pilipinas National Team Jerseys in NBA 2K25, making it accessible to all MyCareer players worldwide. Players can now access the uniform in the MyCAREER mode and wear it in The City, allowing Filipino gamers to represent their national pride even in the virtual courts. “Our fans in the Philippines are some of the most passionate and engaged players in the region. We’re happy to see that the franchise continues to take off in the country, especially with the rise of the eGilas team and the collegiate esports leagues,” said Ng.
Medina, a member of the Ateneo De Manila University eSports team and the UAAP Season 87 eSports NBA 2K tournament champion, expressed excitement for the new game, saying, “I’ve already been playing [NBA 2K25] for the past two days and I can say that it truly feels like a next generation game.” On the other hand, eGilas member Hubillar from UST said, “Since the game’s only been out for a couple of days, everyone is still finding the meta, but we’ll be sticking to our plays in 2K24 for now, like the pick-and-roll offense.” NBA 2K25 offers an array of new features including a revamped City with the return of MyCOURT, iconic NBA 2K MyPARKs, and the Boulevard of the Stars where players can showcase their skills. The introduction of ProPLAY technology, which integrates authentic movements from real NBA game footage, enhances the gameplay experience with over 9,000 new in-game animations. Additionally, the game sees major updates to MyTEAM, MyCAREER, and MyNBA modes, providing players with fresh challenges and opportunities to explore.
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| Physical copies of NBA 2K25 in Standard and All-Star Editions inside the NBA Store at the SM Mall of Asia (Image Source: Manila Standard/NBA Philippines) |
This year’s Standard Edition cover features Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, fresh off an NBA championship and an Olympics gold medal. The All-Star Edition, featuring Tatum alongside two-time WNBA Champion A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, marks a historic moment as Wilson becomes the first WNBA player to grace a global edition cover of the game. NBA 2K25 is now available worldwide for PlayStation4, PlayStation5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam. In the Philippines, it can be purchased at the NBA Store in SM Mall of Asia and select retailers nationwide with the Standard Edition priced at Php4,190 and the All-Star Edition at Php5,990. In celebration of the launch, NBA Store Philippines staged a special three-day promotion exclusive to its SM Mall of Asia branch last September 6-8, 2024 where customers enjoyed 25% off on merchandise featuring cover athletes Jayson Tatum and A’ja Wilson.
