Gameplay
NBA 2K27 isn't just another run-of-the-mill, ordinary game release this year, especially with the groundbreaking new DLSS 5 with 3D-Guided Neural Rendering on PC. Before we get too deep into that, though, let's talk about the actual game itself.
Me personally? I'm more of an old-school, arcade-style sports guy, but 2K Sports may have a new fan. I was pretty blown away not only by the spit-shine polish but also by the massive amount of quality content, both classic and current NBA lineups. The number of game modes and career options is also staggering in the best of ways.
Now, some of that comes with the modern annoyances: online accounts, even though an offline mode is available, and lots of menus to navigate, a bit of bloat. But those are minor compared to the towering achievements present in this game. I've been away from the series for years, and I was oh so glad to return. This is basketball at its finest!
NBA 2K27 with NVIDIA DLSS 5 On? Looks like a game in real life and I’m loving every moment of it!
Graphics and Audio
Let's hit the real meat and potatoes of this meal, the true showcase and reason we're here: the introduction of NVIDIA DLSS 5. Yes, this is the first official game where the new tech is supported, and despite the images you're seeing out there, this is what it's truly designed for — incredible detail and realism in basketball players and their surroundings. Like many, I was a bit skeptical earlier this year, but what we saw during Gamescom and playing NBA 2K27 have been nothing short of revolutionary.
Subtle yet game-changing all at the same time. The details in skin textures, the lighting, shadows, and even the crowd were incredible the more we tested.
The biggest surprise is how good it all looks — a dramatically better image, but subtle enough not to be distracting like some of the exaggerated early samples we've seen. DLSS 5 in NBA 2K27 is an absolute game-changer. It not only let me appreciate the technical artistry on display here, it made me dazzled at the thought of what's in store for the future of PC gaming.
Now, performance with DLSS 5 can be and should be a concern but with frame gen, it wasn’t an issue during gameplay at all. Yes, enabling DLSS 5 came with a 50% load increase but I was still sitting pretty at 100+ FPS in 4K with frame gen enabled. I didn’t notice any major artifacts or image quality issues like in the early days. All the screenshots and footage here was captured with frame gen enabled.
Sound and commentary are equally stunning. I never had an issue with either, and they only enhanced the incredible gameplay and graphical wizardry on screen.
If you watch closely, you can see DLSS 5 switch on and off here with incredible shadow, details, and lighting.
Feedback and Verdict
While some of the complex menus and online features can be a bit annoying, there isn't a ton to complain about with this game. If anything, it's almost too much to grasp at times, but that's not a massive downfall. I just prefer a less complex, jump-right-into-the-action mode available from the moment I boot up a sports game.
In the end, NBA 2K27 is not only a fantastic game, it's a technical marvel and a fantastic first example of how powerful and incredible DLSS 5 already is. With support on the RTX 5xxx series currently, the good news is that RTX 4xxx support and more optimizations are coming soon!
Basketball fan or not, this game is pure eye candy, and I couldn't get enough of it during my testing and playtime. The future? Oh, it's now, baby.
