NBA Playgrounds Is No Longer Available To Purchase From The Switch eShop

Eh..?

Sleazy business practices. I'm sure 2k is behind this as well.

Welcome to the digital age. Yet another reason why physical is preferable.

As we transition to more and more digital content, we hand more and more control over our hobbies to companies...

They’ll rerelease it, but this time it’ll have micro transactions.

@Heavyarms55 Can't argue with you there. Luckily, this game never interested me.

I feel like anyone who wanted this game already owns it though.

It amazes me that these publishers can pull a game from a digital store in a blink of an eye.

Yet another reason I hate digital media. Physical will always be superior.

A lame and shady end to a lame and disappointing game.

Nothing like strong arming customers to buy a newer, micro transaction laden version of your game just as that fact is becoming known due to reviews. I'm sure there's a bunch of "digital is the future" people who will find a way to defend this but when things become fully digital only, I'm out. My only exception are indies on computer who keep their games DRM free. It's a shame that the big triple A publishers have decided to become so anti-consumer but it's to be expected in an industry that is consistently rewarded for pulling this stuff.

Can't wait for its rerelease as NBA 2K Playgrounds 1 Complete Edition, complete with worse graphics and more microtransactions.

Gotta love 2K

This has 2K written all over it... It's scummy as heck and actually makes me even less interested in the sequel

@Heavyarms55 digital has many benefits though. Having to pay up 200 dollars for metroid trilogy on the wii was no fun.

@thesilverbrick tell that to the people that would like an affordable copy of fire emblem gc or wii.

@Heavyarms55 but if you already purchased it, you can still redownload it. This is no different then a game selling out back in 90s, and not finding anything but the sequel on store shelves.
Any excuse to complain about change.

don't worry, it will return riddled with microtransactions and as "NBA 2K" instead

That was a little dirty

Wow, that's a crappy move. They could have sold the first game at a very low price and people would have upgraded to the second game easily.

@Donutman

The difference is that you CAN find the original physical copy of a game, even if you have to buy it used.

Not that I'm interested in this game or surprised that 2K would pull this crap. Don't support companies like this.

@Donutman And you can buy a used copy of that physical 90s game. It can be done. Unless you bought it before, you can never get it now.

@Kalmaro This game doesn't interest me either. It's the trend I don't like.

I had always considered purchasing the original and likely would have at some point... not now, not ever.

And it isn’t just the game that is gone from the store but the DLC also. This may seem obvious but it makes it so even those who own it can’t get access to the full content.

Of the 2 dlc offereings one was a unlock all players time saver but I unlocked almost all the players anyway through normal play through the normal RNG pack mechanic without feeling too much of a grind. The 2nd offering had some exclusive players and tournaments. No micro transactions anywhere. When 2K swooped in it is because they saw Saber was basically leaving money on the table by not increasing the grind and milking that Loot pack mechanic.

Anyway I mostly enjoyed this game for what it was and what it cost me ($10), especially after the enhanced edition update. When I saw reviews and videos for the sequel come in I was reminded of the original and went back to play and buy the $10 pack of extras I had always meant to. That is when I found it was gone and I could now never have the complete, full game experience. Really, REALLY lame move by 2K. Typical and lame.

I enjoyed the first one, but a move like that ensures I will never buy 2

Dirty tricks

It's not a game I can imagine many people would want to play in the future, but it's still a piece of gaming history lost. Unless some industrious hacker managed to back it up that is, which is quite possible. Though folks love to complain about hackers, they are the only ones preserving today's digital-only game releases for future generations to enjoy.

Oh man the amount of white knights is hilarious. No one cared about the first game and I doubt you care about this one but suddenly it’s a problem they removed the first from the store.

Lucky for me, I have both versions of Playgrounds that were released. Unluckily, for 2K, they aren't getting my money for the sequel ¯(ツ)/¯

@BensonUii "You can't buy physical games either if they stopped printing it and went out of stock."

You could always hope to find it on the second hand market. Something obviously not possible in the digital marketplace.

@Guiltygear It's the principle that people have a problem with, and the possibility that this sort of thing could be become commonplace. It's not hard to fathom really is it, holding an opinion on something which the potential impact affects the whole, rather than the person's specific situation at that moment.

I got the first game this summer and quite enjoyed it. I was planning to pick up the Dlc at some point. Ah well, the realities of a digital world.

I got the first game this summer and quite enjoyed it. I was planning to pick up the Dlc at some point. Ah well, the realities of a digital world.

@Beatley82 and I’m here to yawn at said principles because they are hypocritical at best. People who bought the first can still download it, it’s just not for sale anymore.

@Heavyarms55 The trouble is, there are a lot (understatement!)more people who regard gaming as throwaway entertainment like movies and films that your (our) point is irrelevant to their profit margins and dividends.

When this game was first announced I was really really interested but a few poor reviews and a dodgy start kind of put me off then it never came back on my radar.

I used to Love NBA jam back in the day but from what I read this was rather disappointing in comparison

This is where digital gaming falls flat on its face. If I want an older game on a console I can go and buy it second hand physically. Can you imagine when everything is digital only? So an old game will still be 40+ on a consoles digital store and if these devs want to take the older game down to make way for the new one then they can, as this example proves. Once physical games go completely I fear for gaming.

@Guiltygear Why is it hypocrital to not like the practice of removing the original game for purchase upon release of microtransaction laden more expensive sequel?

@Beatley82 Because they are unaffected, it’s not like Playgrounds 2 triggered them to suddenly buy PG1.

And again if you bought PG1 you can still download it.

@Spoony_Tech shady as fcuk business practice, why physical will always win. Greed is king I guess.

@Heavyarms55 #amen to that

@thesilverbrick #until Nintendo started to allow people to sell half physical games. The practice infuriates me. Its good for no one but the greedy publishers. All involved should be smitted from existence.

If a cart exists that's large enough, it should be used. I refuse to believe its that expensive. Also flat out refuse to pay more than £29.99 for a downloaded game that can be pulled at any time.

@Xaisu I fear for gaming already, greedy Companies are already taking us to the cleaners. Making up bizarre new rules as they go.

It seems that no one understands what setting a precedent is.
So now we have to fear buy games at a price higher than we wanted in case it gets pulled at a moments notice. #fcuk digital gaming.

@GrailUK Sadly, our opinion largely isn't relevant to their profits. People are still gonna buy their game because we still want to play them. It's because though we don't like it, we don't dislike it enough to stop playing games.

I love Stardew Valley, but I am not gonna refuse to play it if they don't release it on a cartridge.

I have no problem with a company stop selling a product - it’s their right (and I wish I could remove all the crap from my eShop). But when a company designs a game with microtransactions, then I have no interest - it’s never conducive to gameplay (even if it’s only for cosmetics - if cosmetics improve the game, then include it in what I’ve already paid for - free-to-play get a pass, for obvious reasons)

I was awaiting for sale on the 1st game, as I wasn’t sure (being a big NBA Jam fan) that it would play well, and the fact I have a very large back log.
I for sure will not be buying the 2nd, there is no defending this practice. I will never buy a 2K game.
I see the RGT 85 vid on the 2nd game, showing how little progress you can make when playing, if you don’t buy in game currency.....I thought EA were bad! This takes the biscuit

More of 2K's corruption. Good thing I don't buy those games.

@BensonUii That's not much use for the average consumer.

@Guiltygear Seems you won't get it. Never mind.

I got the original, and now I feel special. Won’t be buying the second one tho

Why is anyone bashing a company for doing what’s best and profitable for their business?! I don’t hear anything complaining : their are not selling last season clothes and the new fashion trends are to blame, or get mad Sony/ Nintendo took last generation consoles off the market because they want people to buy their new ones. It’s common sense people.

Why is anyone bashing a company for doing what’s best and profitable for their business?! I don’t hear anything complaining : their are not selling last season clothes and the new fashion trends are to blame, or get mad Sony/ Nintendo took last generation consoles off the market because they want people to buy their new ones. It’s common sense people.

Why is anyone bashing a company for doing what’s best and profitable for their business?! I don’t hear anything complaining : their are not selling last season clothes and the new fashion trends are to blame, or get mad Sony/ Nintendo took last generation consoles off the market because they want people to buy their new ones. It’s common sense people.

We all are aware of one thing since a certain movie came out in 1987: Greed is good.

I'd be pissed. It has online play right? That severely limits the pool of players available & thus the value of the game people paid for. They ought to offer refunds, or at least partial refunds since multiplayer is now gimped. I can't imagine anyone plays this for single player only, tho.

Glad o got it already

@Kalmaro I wanted it, but was hoping the price would drop when the new one came out. I was wrong.

This is a scummy practice.

Physical Media >>> Digital Media

Funny how the first game wasn't littered with microtransactions. Just more money making BS right here. Microtransactions need to die fast, but I know they wont.

@bezerker99 Eh, I personally like my entire library being immediately accessible on my system without having to change a cartridge. But to each their own.

Nintendo did the same thing with dk tropical freeze on the wiiu eshop, i havent checked all the wiiu to switch ports but they probably removed those too

@Heavyarms55
#3
+1

But what about the people who bought that game?it no longer shows up in my games list and I loved that game!!!

@Heavyarms55 None of this impacts your ability to play it if you already bought it, this is like a game no longer being sold new in stores which has been a routine practice since the first video game was sold. Only difference is how you can't buy it used, which is a point that I can agree with.

I would love to buy NBA playgrounds two, however when I heard that it's full of microtransactions, I decided there's no way I could support that kind of crap, give me a full game and if you want to do DLC do DLC, but not microtransaction garbage.

This is generally not a practice I support, but in this case I don't mind the fact that a completely obsolete release was removed in favor of its superior-in-every-way updated version (rather than a true sequel). It's like removing access to a beta release when the full version comes out, or removing the original version of a "Street Fighter" game once the inevitable "Super," "Turbo," etc. releases come out.

@GraveLordXD Ugh, why don't you people understand that Nintendo will transfer your account to your new console with no redownloads needed if something happens to your console?! You just need to remember to keep your downloads and save data backed up.

@GraveLordXD I don't think that's going to be a problem within our lifetimes, even if they stop making their own consoles someday.

I wonder if they are going to rebrand it.

Why is this surprising? Don't sports games usually only sell the current version?

Calm down everyone!
I imagine this would be due to licensing as the players and the other licensed assets are now licensed by 2k this would terminate the license for playground 1 which was licensed by mad dog or who ever made the first game. Although hard copies would continue to be sold through active EShop sales would need to cease or be in reach of new license contract.

Hahahahahahahaha! No different? Really? Try to sell me a used downloadable game!

@Donutman

"but if you already purchased it, you can still redownload it. This is no different then a game selling out back in 90s, and not finding anything but the sequel on store shelves.
Any excuse to complain about change."

Oh, but I can! How can you fail to see the difference?

@BensonUii

"You can't buy physical games either if they stopped printing it and went out of stock."

I don't care about this game in particular, but this filthy trend of removing games from sale.

@Guiltygear

"Oh man the amount of white knights is hilarious. No one cared about the first game and I doubt you care about this one but suddenly it’s a problem they removed the first from the store."

@GraveLordXD Once again, you'll never need to redownload as long as you keep your downloads backed up. The only exception is with the Wii to Wii U transfer tool, although there aren't many first time Wii U purchases these days, anyway.

@BensonUii : I can't fathom Nintendo's stupidity in producing the Bayonetta Japanese edition and Fire Emblem Fates Special Editions in such extremely limited quantities with no reprints whatsoever. I was extremely fortunate to have been able to grab FE at retail price (my car was out of service at the time and I had to take a bus to what is perhaps Australia's only remaining independent video game store). With Bayonetta, I had to pay up nearly AU$300 to some scalper on eBay, which is a far cry from the $69 that I had paid for the double pack on Wii U back in the day (being a local copy).

I echo my sentiments towards Nintendo regarding the gold and silver Mario amiibo as well.

Meanwhile, the much-less-desired Fire Emblem Warriors and Echoes limited editions are still available in relative abundance.

Were this article not written, would anyone ever have noticed?

@BensonUii : The Japanese retail edition of Farewell Box Boy (or whatever it's called) contains the amiibo, and I don't recall them being bank-breakingly expensive (though that may have been the Japanese 3DS Shovel Knight edition that was cheap). I managed to snag one of the 300 standalone Qbby amiibo that Nintendo Australia sold exclusively via their eBay Store (I missed out on the Sanrio amiibo cards, sadly, and they cost an absolutely obscene amount on eBay).

I recently procured the gold and silver Mario, but they were pretty damn expensive. Unfortunately, I was overseas at the time of their release and they presold out almost immediately. I have no interest in Monster Hunter Stories, however, the amiibo were surprisingly cheap, so I thought I'd add them to the collection.

I've pretty much given up on procuring the cards at this point as it would be prohibitively expensive trying to collect them all, but once my gold Mega Man amiibo arrives, I will finally have every single amiibo figurine released so far. The only exceptions are the Skylander ones, which I don't particularly consider to be amiibo (plus, I wasn't willing to buy FOUR SKUs of a game I'll never play totalling about AU$500 for four figurines that I'll never use).

I've never collected anything this obsessively in my life, and I should have known better before buying those likely-to-be-rare Smash amiibo all those years ago. I particularly love the Guardian and squishy Metroid amiibo. Qbby is also adorable despite how ridiculously simplistic its design is.

Incidentally, I most likely would have bought all of the Starlink toys as well if they had bothered to include the full game on cartridge. Now, I'll be skipping it entirely.

Seems like Take-Two Interactive (owner of 2K Games) wants the basketball videogame monopoly. They're buying out these rival franchises and make them their own microtransaction-versions. Then they're going to delete the old original games. Saber Interactive must have gotten a pretty decent deal.

NBA Playgrounds went completely missing from the Switch eShop. The eShop page for NBA Playgrounds - Enhanced Edition is still available but you can't buy the game anymore.

So they removed a perfectly fun game from the eShop but still kept the garbage that was WWE 2K18? Make sense.

@Retro_Ditto Because we are not the company's shareholders, and what maximizes their profits is not what's good for us? Just a thought.