In the realm of NBA 2K, Ronnie Singh (better known as Ronnie 2K) is undoubtedly the most famous influencer-ambassador in the industry. For several years, he has been the one who has the heavy task of designing and sharing the players' notes, who never hesitate to write to him or call him when they are not satisfied with their attributes.
A few days before the release of NBA 2K25the best basketball simulation on the market, the “face” of the brand shares his impressions and excitement about this new opus. Opus which, as every year, was presented to a handful of journalists and content creators during a “Community Day” which was held, exceptionally, within the legendary Hall of Fame.
“Above all, we want to please the fans”
— If you could choose just one word to describe NBA 2K25, what would it be?
Maybe “innovation”. Or “fan-favorite”. It’s a mix of all of these: if you’re a fan of a particular game mode, [vous allez apprécier] the new features we have incorporated and the aspects we have tried to improve, thinking of the fans.
— What is the main new feature of this opus?
The news is everywhere and more announcements are still to come [d’ici la sortie officielle, prévue le 6 septembre]. It's hard to choose one thing in particular: there will be some in career mode, in MyTeam mode and in the game as a whole… The novelty is really everywhere with us.
— What criticism did you keep in mind to improve the gaming experience this year?
We take a lot of criticism into account, because we want to please the fans first and foremost. Last year, we tried different things and it didn't work out too well, so we changed things. In terms of gameplay, for example, fans were asking for more fluidity in dribbling and shooting. So we take their feedback seriously, probably more than anyone else, in order to satisfy our fans.
“If players want a better grade, they should be better on the field”
— Let’s talk about ratings. How do you establish players’ ratings?
There are a lot of numbers. We rely on formulas and obviously real statistics, as well as some more “immeasurable” mental aspects. Everything is done objectively, but it is primarily the real performances that determine our ratings. There are and always will be critics, but it is hard to please everyone, because there are just so many incredible players… But it is always something quite fun to design.
— Today, are you trying to be as fair as possible or not to upset the players, who often complain about their grades?
We don't care about upsetting the players. It's really about their performance, so if they want a better grade, to be better on the pitch… It's simple and we take it seriously.
— This year, Victor Wembanyama will have an overall rating of 91, a record for a sophomore. Do you think he will one day become the highest rated player in an NBA 2K?
It could even happen a lot sooner than we think… He’s just incredible. He has no limits, he’s an anomaly. If he keeps up the momentum, stays healthy and the Spurs get better, [il pourrait vite le devenir]. To think he's only 20 and has only been in the NBA for one season… It's crazy. Once he understands the game even better, he'll be unstoppable. I've never seen that.
“I want people to fall in love with basketball through our game”
— Are you already working on NBA 2K26 when NBA 2K25 isn't even out yet?
Our teams are always one step ahead, so they're obviously thinking about it. A year is pretty short to produce a full video game. To stay competitive, innovate and improve, you have to be able to anticipate things. But for now, we're mainly trying to focus on 2K25, especially since 2K24 is also in the equation.
— About you. Explain to us where your notoriety comes from?
[Il rigole] My goal was never to become famous… I just wanted to talk about the NBA, work on the NBA, like any NBA fan. Promote the players more than the teams. But I don't know where all that came from honestly. It would be interesting for me to think about it in more detail one of these days…
— A lot of young people play NBA 2K. What role do you want to play with this generation of fans?
Oh, that's a great question, but I've never thought about it before. [Il prend le temps] Personally, I would say that NBA 2K is an incredible platform for telling and sharing stories. So I especially want that for the younger generation. I want people to fall in love with basketball through our game. That's our number one priority as a company: we want to be an inspiration to the younger generation.
Interview conducted in Springfield
