2K Sports released a new NFL video game today as part of the company’s deal with the NFL that covers non-simulation games. The card battler mobile game NFL 2K Playmakers is out now on iOS and Android as a free game supported by microtransactions and developed by Cat Daddy Games.
NFL 2K Playmakers has players putting together NFL player cards with the aim of making the strongest roster overall, covering offense, defense, and special teams. The game’s two main modes are Red Zone Drive and Seasons. In Red Zone Drive, players have to leverage their football know-how to call plays strategically and hope their players execute. In Seasons mode, players build a team and take them through an entire NFL season, culminating in the Super Bowl if they can make it that far.
NFL 2K Playmakers has real player likenesses, as the game was produced in partnership with the NFL Players Association. Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud is the cover athlete.
Starting with the upcoming 2024 NFL season, players can make predictions about real-life matchups to obtain points that they can use for a chance to grab in-game rewards. 2K said more details about this will be announced when the new NFL season begins later this year.
2K is also making an arcade-style NFL game, but it has been delayed indefinitely and there continues to be no word on when it might release. In 2023, Insider Gaming reported that development on the game had restarted at least twice since it started development.
2K’s NFL 2K series was once very popular, but the publisher ended the series in 2004. Under its new agreement with the NFL, 2K will make non-simulation NFL games. That’s an important distinction because EA Sports remains the exclusive developer of simulation-style NFL games with its Madden NFL series.
The new NFL games from 2K will have the names, numbers, images, and likenesses of more than 2,000 current NFL players.
With 2K getting back into NFL games, the publisher is extending its sports game catalogue. 2K already makes NBA, WWE, and PGA Tour games. The company is also getting back into the tennis game, and will launch TopSpin 2K25 on April 26.
