2K moved Early Access up two days from the original August 28 date. Servers opened at 9:00 AM PT on August 26. In Europe that was 5:00 PM BST / 6:00 PM CEST. If you already pre-ordered Deluxe or Ultra on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC, you can download and play now.
Who Can Play NBA 2K27 Today?
| Edition | Cover athlete | Price | Play today (Aug 26)? | Full launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Victor Wembanyama | $69.99 | No | September 4 |
| Deluxe | Caitlin Clark | $99.99 | Yes | Already live |
| Ultra | Derrick Rose | $149.99 | Yes | Already live |
Important platform note: Deluxe and Ultra are digital-only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Nintendo Switch 2 only has the Standard Edition, so Switch players wait until September 4.
Standard Edition
The base game. Wembanyama is on the cover. You get the full NBA 2K27 experience on September 4 across PS5, Xbox, PC, and Switch 2. Pre-order typically includes 10,000 VC. No Early Access.
Best if you just want the game and do not care about a nine-day head start.
Deluxe Edition
This is the edition most players buy for Early Access. Caitlin Clark is the first WNBA player with her own global NBA 2K cover.
What Deluxe includes:
- Up to 9 days of Early Access (started today)
- 100,000 VC
- MyCAREER boosts, Wemby and Clark jerseys, 2XP coins
- MyTEAM packs and Series 1 content
If you want to build your MyPLAYER, grind The City, and start MyTEAM before the rest of the player base, this is the version that unlocks today.
Ultra Edition
The premium, limited SKU. Derrick Rose returns as cover athlete. Availability of this edition was originally limited through early September.
Ultra includes everything in Deluxe, plus:
- 135,000 VC total
- Season 1 Pro Pass
- Summer Pass (Seasons 7–9)
- Exclusive Rose MyCAREER gear
- Premium guaranteed MyTEAM cards later in the year
Buy Ultra only if you want the extra VC, season passes, and collector content. Early Access is the same window as Deluxe: it is already live.
Early Access Times by Region (August 26)
- Pacific Time: 9:00 AM PT
- New York: 12:00 PM EDT
- London: 5:00 PM BST
- Central Europe: 6:00 PM CEST
Asia/Oceania times roll into August 27 local. Availability can vary slightly by store and region.
What You Can Do Right Now If You Have Deluxe or Ultra
Season 1 tipped off with Early Access. That means The City, MyCAREER, and MyTEAM are open for Deluxe and Ultra owners. You get a real head start on builds, badges, cap breakers, and early MyTEAM cards before Standard players arrive on September 4.
If your copy is still downloading, check the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Steam library. The game should already show as playable if the purchase is Deluxe or Ultra.
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