NBA 2K18 Blog Details Changed Offensive Controls & AI Tweaks Before Release

NBA 2K18 defensive AI adjustments were detailed earlier this week, and thanks to a new blog post on Operation Sports, we’ve got a sneak peek at computer-controlled offense. Visual Concepts AI Producer Nino Samuel discussed how new tendencies, AI execution and motion enhancements change the game for good.

There’s a lot to unpack in the full post, so we’ll offer a bulleted list to highlight its main points.

Play Calling And Substitution

• Will be conducted on face buttons as opposed to right stick
• Left d-pad and the corresponding button will call a play
• Triggers toggle freelance styles. Tapping triggers twice brings up freelance selection screen.
• Right d-pad shows gameplan items that are selected using the triggers
• Left d-pad+L1/LB brings up smart play. Tapping L1 brings up specific plays. Hover over the player and use the triggers to select the play.

Tendencies: Tendencies are more situational than ever before. The following questions are asked to determine how the player responds in each situation.

• Spot-up: Was the pass caught at mid-range or three-point? Is the player more likely to drive or shoot?
• Off-screen: Is the pass received at mid-range or three-point? What’s the player’s off-screen drive tendency?
• Transition: Does the player like to pull-up for three while in transition?
• Step-backs driving pull-up: Does the player often step back from mid-range? Would they go for a shorter three?
• Contested Shots: Would the player take a contested shot from mid-range? Would they go for a short three?
• Driving pull-up: Do they pull up at mid-range or in three-range while driving?
• Isolation: Is the defender good? If not, be more aggressive.

AI Execution

• Transition: The CPU is better able to choose the right player to fill vacant lanes.
• Transition spot-up vs. cut: In the final stage of a fast break, data is checked to see if the player is more likely to go for three points or cut to the basket. If there’s less space available the AI will instinctively cut.

Motion: Less time to perform maneuvers makes the game’s offensive AI more reactive.

Tempo: Slow teams take longer to shoot. Fast teams are more aggressive and keep trying if they miss.

Flow Tech: The AI actively tries to dupe and resist players. For example, screens fade when trying to meet defenders at the rim. In short, the AI adapts more to variable conditions as opposed to a set play.

While fairly technical in nature, these adjustments found in NBA 2K18 ensure the game’s highest-scoring players act as they should even when humans aren’t controlling them. Obviously, there are going to be some glitches when it comes to getting all these complex systems to function in tandem but some attributes, like the spot-up vs cut data, can be edited and actively respond to roster updates throughout the season.

Everything found here seemingly goes hand-in-hand with the defensive adjustments revealed this week. In 2K18, the AI understands how to position a defender based on the skill of the shooter. There’s also play set and action recognition systems in place to help the defense understand plays and adapt to them as they develop. This year’s title aims to more faithfully recreate the moment-to-moment chess game that is basketball, and we can’t wait to see if that goal actually comes to fruition.

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

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