The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) recently issued a heated statement directed at 2K Games, the developers behind the popular basketball simulation, NBA 2K24. The complaint is related to the game’s alleged poor representation of WNBA players.
Posting from their official account on X, the WNBPA stated, “IT’S SATURDAY MORNING, SO WE’LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT. YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE AMAZING, DYNAMIC, STRONG, UNRELENTING, BADASS WOMEN OF THE W. ACT LIKE IT. BE BETTER. #BetOnWomen.”
DEAR @NBA2K:
IT’S SATURDAY MORNING, SO WE’LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.
YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE AMAZING, DYNAMIC, STRONG, UNRELENTING, BADASS WOMEN OF THE W.
ACT LIKE IT.
BE BETTER.#BetOnWomen pic.twitter.com/ck9o0dXBXw— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) October 7, 2023
This is not the first time the appearance of WNBA players in the game has sparked controversy. Since the WNBA’s introduction in NBA 2K21, fans have voiced concerns about the inaccurate representation of many of the league’s players.
Recently LA Sparks guard Lexie Brown expressed her disappointment with the developers. “We’ve [the WNBA] been in 2k the last two or three times 2ks and everything has been fine,” Brown said in a video. “We’ve gotten face scans, they’ve made us look okay, yadda yadda yadda. But for whatever reason, this year they said ‘fuck the WNBA’. Just look at my player. Just leave us out the game if y’all don’t wanna even try,”
While NBA 2K has made improvements in offering equal importance to the WNBA in its gameplay by allowing players to enjoy multiple WNBA seasons, many find it upsetting to see the repeated issues with player representation.
What is NBA 2K24’s face feature and how to use it?
Despite the controversy surrounding the WNBA face scans, NBA 2K24 remains popular for its revolutionary Face Scan feature. This feature allows players to import a realistic image of their face to create a custom MyPLAYER character that will allow them to experience the journey of an NBA superstar more personally.
SCAN YOUR FACE ‼️
NBA2K has made it more realistic when you scan your face now, this feature has been updated #NBA2K24 #NBA2K #2K24 pic.twitter.com/MRVS6Kjpcs
— Court Side Heat (@courtsideheat) September 8, 2023
To use this immersive feature, players must first download the MyNBA 2K Companion App which is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms. This app also offers various utilities like code redemption, but it’s particularly known for its Face Scan capability.
Once the app is downloaded, users need to connect to their gaming account, be it on PSN, Steam, Nintendo, or Xbox Live. Following this, they can initiate the scanning process. For best results, players are advised to:
- Use Natural Lighting: Daylight provides the best environment for capturing accurate facial features.
- Maintain the Right Distance: The app guides users on the proper distance, ensuring the best scan possible.
Players might need to attempt the scan a few times, but there’s no need to worry the game allows unlimited retries. While this feature offers a more personalized gaming experience, the ongoing concerns surrounding the representation of professional WNBA players highlight the importance of accurate representation across all aspects of the game.