NBA 2K18 Adaptive AI Changes Demoed In New 2K Blog Post

The latest AI showcase on Operation Sports shows NBA 2K18 offers plenty of under-the-hood changes not seen in last year’s game. In a recent blog post, 2K Producer Scott O’Gallagher outlined the major AI adjustments for players not holding the ball.

There’s lots of technical terminology to unpack here, so we’ve divided everything into neat sections just like the source post.

• Back To Fundamentals: Players know which off ball cuts work in each situation
• Change Of Positioning: AI positioning responds accurately to the shooter’s ability and game situation. In other words, defenders won’t always hover one pass away in moderate defensive settings. They’ll consider who has the ball and what’s going on in the game.
• Play Set And Action Recognition: AI recognizes a set and action a team is running and adjusts to it on the fly. Every team is aware if certain opposing players are on a hot streak. Defenses stay closer to hotter players. Isolation situations follow similar rules. Boston responds to Anthony and LeBron isolations differently.
• Defensive Perceptions: Defenders have an IQ level that determines how well they can read passing animations. Players only respond to what they see in their line of sight.
• Double Teams: They are refactored with new animation for pick and roll post ups. Double team packages for AI allow them to accurately adjust coverage.
• Zone Defense In Pro-Am: You can call it without a loss of grade.
• Adding To The Authenticity: Added more team-specific schemes and updated the Jordan rules
• Malone Lane Line: Teams adjust to pick and roll below the foul line
• Mismatch Adjustment: In parameter mismatches the defense and on-ball defender adjust to fit the situation.
• Cutter And Slip Help: Off ball cutters or screeners no longer cause defensive breaks. You can fully deny on the perimeter and rely on your back end to do its job.
• Improved Rotations And Help Angles: Simplified multiple rotation logic and overhauled the stop ball logic to make defensive play feel good
• Team-Specific Help And Rotations: Teams have unique rotations similar to their real-world play.
• Defensive Setting Menu: New menu design conveys the benefits and drawbacks of team-specific defenses so it’s easier to understand the X’s and O’s behind the scenes. It works in MyGM and MyLeague modes too.
• Communicate: Defensive Communication setting displays indicators above a team’s head to show the correct defensive response. It shows new players how to handle that side of the game.
• The Pick And Roll: Defenders can branch out faster depending on the throw of their stick. Going under on big-size screeners is actually costly this year.
• Team Proficiency: There’s an eight-pronged team proficiency system that discourages flooding the floor with all top-tier players at the same time. Certain players have different positions and roles. Playing outside those roles will offer negative results. In other words don’t put Steve Nash in the Triangle system and don’t put Paul George in the center slot. These systems impact MyGM, MyLeague and MyTeam all at once.

Most of these changes probably won’t be noticed by NBA 2K18’s more casual players, but they’re essential to those who take the game’s simulation elements seriously. Redesigned menus and the new communication feature make that element of play more accessible than ever. In short, defenses will be smarter, more adaptive and more realistic than in the past.

NBA 2K18 comes to PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC Sept. 19. Check out the latest blogs about gameplay, MyGM and MyTeam too.

What do you think of these AI changes? Will they make NBA 2K18 a better game? Tell us in the comments section!