Is NBA 2K27 going to be crossplay with different platforms? This is how you can turn on this feature
NBA 2K27 has finally arrived, but players hoping to team up across every platform are facing a major limitation
N BA 2K27 is now available worldwide, giving basketball fans the chance to jump into the latest installment from Visual Concepts.
The game has launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch 2 , but the availability across several platforms does not mean that players can freely compete with friends regardless of their hardware.
Crossplay has once again become one of the biggest questions surrounding the franchise. With more players choosing different consoles and PC gaming becoming increasingly popular, the ability to join friends on another platform can be a major factor when deciding which version of a sports game to purchase.
For NBA 2K27 , the answer is somewhat more complicated than a simple yes or no.
2K has confirmed that crossplay is available, but it is restricted to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. That means a player on either of those two current-generation consoles can play online with someone using the other system.
PC and Nintendo Switch 2 players, meanwhile, are not included in the crossplay matchmaking pool.
The distinction is particularly important because NBA 2K27 is being promoted across four different platforms.
The game officially launched on September 4, 2026, while Deluxe and Ultra Edition owners received earlier access. 2K has also introduced a number of major features this year, including an expanded MyPLAYER Builder, a revamped gameplay system, MyCAREER Eras and the first co-op elements for MyCAREER.
How NBA 2K27 crossplay actually works
The first thing players should know is that there is no universal crossplay switch that allows PC, Switch 2, PlayStation and Xbox users to enter the same matchmaking pool.
Instead, the crossplay functionality is built around the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions. If you own NBA 2K27 on PS5, you can play with a friend using Xbox Series X|S. The same applies in reverse for Xbox players.
PC users are excluded from console crossplay, meaning someone playing NBA 2K27 through Steam cannot use crossplay to join a PS5 or Xbox friend. Nintendo Switch 2 users are similarly separated from the PS5 and Xbox matchmaking environment.
This has caused some frustration among parts of the NBA 2K community. A Reddit discussion following the announcement focused specifically on the absence of PC and Switch 2 crossplay, with players questioning why the feature was not being extended to additional platforms.
There is also an important distinction involving MyTEAM. 2K has unified the MyTEAM Auction House across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
That means those platforms share a marketplace for cards, but it does not mean Switch 2 players can actually play online games against PS5 or Xbox users. The Auction House's cross-platform functionality should therefore not be confused with crossplay.
For players asking how to turn crossplay on, there is consequently no complicated setting that needs to be activated to unlock every platform.
If you're using PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, the supported crossplay functionality is built into the online experience. The crucial requirement is simply that you and your friend are playing on one of those two supported console platforms.
NBA 2K27 's approach is therefore best described as limited crossplay rather than full cross-platform play. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players get the biggest shared online pool, while PC and Switch 2 remain outside that matchmaking system.
That may disappoint players who expected NBA 2K27 to follow the increasingly common industry trend toward full crossplay, particularly given that the game is now available on all four major current-generation platforms.
However, 2K's decision does provide one clear benefit: friends on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S do not need to own the same console to play together.
For anyone buying NBA 2K27 primarily to play with friends, the platform choice therefore matters more than it might initially appear.
If your group is split between PlayStation and Xbox, you're covered. If someone is playing on PC or Switch 2, however, they cannot simply turn on a setting to join the console matchmaking pool.
