NBA 2K18 Archetypes List, Badge Tracking & Stat Upgrades Confirmed

NBA 2K18 MyCareer got a formal reveal Thursday, and it’s folded into a massive social hub called The Neighborhood, which features most of the game’s modes in one place. Careers, MyPark and Pro-Am are all under one roof, and that unification comes with some pretty big changes.

For one, MyPlayers will now be classified into seven archetypes. The reveal stream didn’t detail what those classes would be, but we’ve since learned a lot more about them thanks to hands-on reports. Here’s the full list of possible archetypes:

• Three-point shooting
• Passing And Ball handling
• Driving And Finishing
• Defending
• Post-Scoring
• Shot creating
• Rebounding

Each MyPlayer has primary and secondary archetypes, and the two fields can be mixed and matched in every possible way. Those who want three-point shooting as their primary and secondary skill, for example, have the freedom to design that player. The number of available badges seems to vary depending on the chosen archetypes, but there are generally between 17 and 24 available options.

Trailer screenshots also tell us that badge progress in NBA 2K18 is actually tracked, too. A badge screen shows all available enhancements and how many points are necessary to unlock each one. That number is updated as the player makes progress toward meeting the requirements.

Another major improvement is what looks like at least a partial return of the individual attribute upgrades system that was sorely missing from NBA 2K17. The image below shows an attribute upgrade screen, with many more options than before. During Thursday’s stream, the game’s producers emphasized that The Neighborhood would allow NBA 2K fans to craft their player and career in any way they see fit. Bringing that additional layer of customization back to the creation suite goes a long way toward completing that mission.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to showcasing how this massive online social area could change the franchise for the better. In addition to the return of all popular staple modes, there will also be mini-games, accessory shops, limited events and more that players can mess around with when not in-game. With exploration, competition and socialization at your fingertips, this year’s hoop game looks to be a major refresher.

NBA 2K18 comes to PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch and PC Sept. 19.

Will The Neighborhood make NBA 2K18 an awesome game? Are you stoked to mess around with the new archetypes and attribute tweaks? Tell us in the comments section!