The University of Louisville's men's and women's basketball programs will appear in an upcoming version of NBA 2K and a new standalone college basketball game from 2K Sports. A scanning truck visited Louisville's facilities to capture players' and coaches' likenesses, signaling active development. Release dates for both titles remain unannounced.
Announcement Details
2K Sports, known for its NBA 2K franchise, announced on September 4 via X (formerly Twitter) its return to college basketball gaming after a 17-year hiatus. The company plans to include more than 100 college programs in a dedicated college basketball experience, with Louisville among the confirmed participants. "We've got big plans for 2027 and beyond and even a few surprises coming in early 2026," 2K stated. "We've proven the quality of the basketball experience we can deliver for years and have every intention to bring that same level of quality to college hoops."
Development and Inclusion
On Thursday, a 2K scanning truck stopped at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center in Louisville to scan the faces of players and coaches for accurate in-game representations. This process has also occurred at other prominent programs, including Duke, Houston, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Purdue. Reports indicate Arizona, Baylor, and Kansas will join the roster as well.
The standalone college game marks 2K's first entry since College Hoops 2K8 in 2007, while the college features will integrate into the next NBA 2K installment. Meanwhile, rival EA Sports teased a revival in June but reportedly rescinded plans after schools opted for 2K partnerships.
Fan demand remains high, with sealed copies of College Hoops 2K8 fetching up to $249.95 on eBay, highlighting the anticipation for fresh college hoops simulations.