Fans of the long running Basketball series NBA 2K will have a lot to look forward to when NBA 2K21 hits retail shelves next month. Apart from the usual roster updates, 2K21 will boast of new gameplay improvements that rookies and veterans to the series will take notice to.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, NBA 2K Gameplay Director Mike Wang discussed the many changes that will be making its way to NBA2K21, which everyone will get to try when a free demo comes out on August 24.

The biggest and most noticeable will take place on the Pro Stick side of things, which can be summed up as follows:

• Hold Right Stick (RS) down = jump shot
• Hold RS left or right = escape dribble moves
• Hold RS up = signature size-ups
• Tap the RS = quick 1-to-1 dribble moves
• Tap the RS with Sprint held = quick momentum dribble moves

This change allowed the team at 2K games to offer players a wider array of moves but at the same time, make the controls more intuitive. It’s quite the departure from previous 2K iterations, but will feel like second nature after a few practice sessions.

NBA size-ups have also been improved, with new additions like Harden’s around the leg, a new version of Kobe’s dance, and Durant’s patented hesi cross. All in all, there are 14 Park and 36 unique NBA Size-ups for players to choose from.

Shooting also gets an overhaul, with the shot meter changing from a timing bar to a targeting system. Instead of releasing at the perfect shot timing window, you’ll need to adjust the pro stick to hit a center aim point, which is dynamic based on the shooting ability of the player. This new targeting system will also apply to layups, so it will be something that players will need to get used to over the course of their gameplay.

Other various improvements like better defensive presence from your bigs and improved block targeting has also been implemented for 2K21. You’ll also get the ability to create bigger point guards of up to 6’8″ in MyCAREER, as was requested by cover athlete Damian Lillard himself.

Not everything is being changed though, as the Badge system from 2K20 is making a return as players gave really positive feedback about it. More badges will be more viable, which will give players a tougher challenge choosing which badge they really want equipped.

Try out all the new changes and improvements to NBA2K21 as the free demo arrives on August 24.

NBA 2K21 will be available worldwide on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020. NBA 2K21 will also be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as a launch title this holiday.