NBA 2K27 is teasing a crossover with Rockstar Games, seemingly to promote Grand Theft Auto 6.
At the end of the trailer for NBA 2K27 Season 1, there’s a very cryptic tease. The camera tilts down toward a purple-ish poster sporting palm trees, which looks awfully similar to the very first artwork Rockstar released for GTA 6. Seagulls and police sirens can be heard in the background before the camera pans over to an arcade cabinet. One machine has the 2K logo and the other has the Rockstar Games logo. On the screens, the words “Season 3” can be seen in the GTA 6 font and color scheme.
Seasons tend to last about six weeks, so we can expect Season 3 to launch around the time of GTA 6’s release in November. It’s unclear what exactly this will offer, especially since NBA 2K is an E-rated game and the GTA series pushes the boundaries with its M-ratings. However, it appears to be part of a larger effort to ramp up marketing for what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest releases in entertainment history.
A lot of fans have been frustrated with the lack of marketing for GTA 6 up until now. There have been two trailers and some screenshots to go along with pre-orders, but that’s about it as of right now. However, things will ramp up later this week when Rockstar Games releases an extended look at the game on Netflix. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick previously teased a big marketing campaign for GTA 6, and it seems like the decision to partner with Netflix and Take-Two’s other juggernaut franchise, NBA 2K, will help emphasize the significance of this release.
Maybe players will be able to rep Vice City-themed gear or maybe there will be a Vice City basketball court in NBA 2K27. Basketball appears to be a part of GTA 6, as recently revealed in leaked gameplay for the title, but it’s unclear how big of a role that mini-game will play in GTA 6. Either way, all will be revealed in the coming months.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
