Highlights

  • A class-action lawsuit has been filed against NBA 2K publisher Take-Two, claiming "theft" related to microtransactions in the game.
  • The lawsuit focuses on the use of virtual currency within NBA 2K and the inability to carry items over to future games.
  • This is not the first time Take-Two has faced legal action over microtransactions in NBA 2K, as a similar lawsuit was settled in arbitration last year.

An NBA 2K player has reportedly filed a class-action lawsuit against publisher Take-Two for "theft" with regard to the franchise's microtransactions. Microtransactions have become a hot-button issue within the gaming community throughout recent years with the rise of online gaming and, particularly, the prevalence of live-service and mobile games. Many of the biggest modern games now include microtransactions in some form, ranging from EA Sports FC's "Ultimate Team" mode to cosmetics in games like Mortal Kombat 1. Now, one fan is taking legal action against a sports gaming juggernaut.

Like with many modern sports games, the NBA 2K series heavily features microtransactions as a part of its online game modes. Players can use NBA 2K's in-game VC currency to upgrade their players in MyCareer, allowing players to purchase skill points to make their in-game characters better. The game's MyTeam mode functions similarly to the "Ultimate Team" game mode found in EA Sports' games, allowing fans to purchase packs to add in-game players to their team. Now, a young fan and their mother are taking Take-Two to court over the predatory microtransactions.

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As reported by Axios, a minor in California, represented by their mother, has officially filed a class-action lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive over the microtransactions in NBA 2K. The lawsuit focuses, in particular, on the virtual currency used within NBA 2K and the inability to carry items over from one of the annual games to the next. The lawsuit refers to Take-Two as "unfair, illegal, and greedy," also citing the closure of older games' online servers. The removal of any leftover currency is classified as "theft" within the suit, serving as the main basis behind the legal complaint.

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The newfound legal action against the NBA 2K publisher would not be the first time a disgruntled fan has taken Take-Two to court. Last year, NBA 2K's virtual currency was the subject of a similar lawsuit, taking aim at the pricing of the NBA 2K games in addition to the virtual currency. The 2022 suit also held similar claims regarding the predatory nature of NBA 2K's microtransaction-based online gameplay, despite retailing for the same price as other AAA games. The lawsuit was eventually settled through arbitration, with the resolution of the settlement not known to the public.

Take-Two's upcoming legal predicament comes as the NBA 2K franchise's newest entry has seen a rocky start. The early months following the launch of NBA 2K24 have been plagued with bugs and glitches, causing a significant amount of fan backlash. NBA 2K24 even became Steam's lowest-rated game, taking the dubious honor from Overwatch 2, with many fans calling 2K24 a "copy-paste" of the previous year's game. NBA 2K24's launch woes look to continue as Take-Two will have to defend itself in court.