2K’s Bold College Basketball Plan: DLC Inside NBA 2K? Imagine March Madness built into your favorite NBA game

🎓 What 2K Really Proposed

2K pitched a phased rollout of college hoops directly inside NBA 2K’s MyTeam mode:

• Year 1: 16 DI teams available as $15 DLC
• Year 2: Expand to 32 teams, then grow to 68 in Year 3
• Target: $3 million in DLC sales before moving forward
• An optional standalone game would be assessed post‑NBA 2K28

They aimed to gamify college hoops within their existing ecosystem, not as a full-priced release.

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🤝 EA vs 2K: Rival Visions

The College Licensing Company reportedly favored EA’s full standalone game pitch (covering all 364 NCAA teams), rather than 2K’s limited DLC route with only 16–68 teams and a royalty rate of just 2%. EA's plan offered broader inclusion and higher royalties (2.5%), emphasizing the best financial return for schools.

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🔍 Why This Proposal Matters

• Different distribution model: DLC keeps college hoops tied to NBA 2K’s massive install base—no need to launch a whole new game.
• Risk-based scaling: Starting small lets 2K test the waters before committing to a full release.
• NIL implications: Even limited rosters could generate strong engagement and school payouts.

But EA’s all-in model offering full team access and standalone stature ultimately won the day.

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🏀 What’s Next for College Hoops Fans

• EA plans to revive its college basketball brand by 2028, including men's and women's NCAA teams, multiple game modes, and broad licensing support.
• 2K has hinted via teaser (“The campus has been quiet for too long”) that it’s still exploring options to bring college basketball back into their ecosystem—even if only as DLC.

This sets the stage for a potential showdown in college hoops gaming—one inside NBA 2K, and one as a standalone experience by EA.

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Bottom Line:
2K’s college basketball DLC concept—starting with 16 teams and scaling up—was an inexpensive, low-risk approach that tied into NBA 2K's massive user base. But with EA securing broader licensing and independent rights, the full-court press is now on for a true college basketball revival. Fans could soon get both options.

Stay tuned for all the college hoops gaming news on the 1v1Me Blog!