Graphics comparison: 2K23 vs 2K25

[Daddy123]

can confirm the lighting on the court has improved compared to last year and players skin tone also looks more natural than dull, huge difference for a guy like KD

[EccentricMeat]

Quote: Originally Posted by nitsujneal

I think this comparison does a good job illustrating the visual improvements

The difference between the two is insane. The players look so much more real in 2K25, 2K24 looks legitimately a generation behind in that respect.

[AIRJ23]

Finally some broadcast footage. The footage from 2K25 is from a much higher quality video while 2K23 a bit more blurry due to being a lower quality vid, but even without taking that into account I think it’s safe to say 23’s court objectively looks better in every single example I’ve seen. Certainly to me it does.

The court, crowd and overall atmosphere looks more vibrant and alive in 23 to me. More sparse and sterile in 25.

The lighting on player models in 25 looks the best I’ve seen it yet I think, after 2K24 went backwards in that regard with cartoony models. But I liken 25’s improvement at least partially to sweat perhaps as it looks closer to how 23 models look when fully sweaty (which is rare to see which is part of the problem but more detailed and defined.

[scottyp180]

Quote: Originally Posted by AIRJ23

Finally some broadcast footage. The footage from 2K25 is from a much higher quality video while 2K23 a bit more blurry due to being a lower quality vid, but even without taking that into account I think it’s safe to say 23’s court objectively looks better in every single example I’ve seen. Certainly to me it does. The court, crowd and overall atmosphere looks more vibrant and alive in 23 to me. More sparse and sterile in 25. The lighting on player models in 25 looks the best I’ve seen it yet I think, after 2K24 went backwards in that regard with cartoony models. But I liken 25’s improvement at least partially to sweat perhaps as it looks closer to how 23 models look when fully sweaty (which is rare to see which is part of the problem but more detailed and defined.

Brightening the lighting in the crowd could help a lot. The dark nearly blacked out lighting makes it look flat. I hope this is something they improve at release or with a patch. They should be able to, but 2K doesn't often make visual and art changes like that.

[AIRJ23]

Quote: Originally Posted by scottyp180

Brightening the lighting in the crowd could help a lot. The dark nearly blacked out lighting makes it look flat. I hope this is something they improve at release or with a patch. They should be able to, but 2K doesn't often make visual and art changes like that.

I agree. The dark crowd and more matte wood (glossy but not as much as 23) make the atmosphere seem more “dead” on 25. I doubt they’ll change anything in that regard as they never do with art and core lighting and never added gloss back to 24.

That’s another thing about games vs real life. I think the gloss makes a game appear more lifelike as it adds a certain element of vibrancy aka life to it.

But I do like what I’m seeing with lighting on the player models. The models themselves appear identical to years past but the way they’re lit does look good. It’s like they have them akin to what “full sweat lighting” in 2K23 looks like and sharpened even that up more.

[scottyp180]

Quote: Originally Posted by AIRJ23

I agree. The dark crowd and more matte wood (glossy but not as much as 23) make the atmosphere seem more “dead” on 25. I doubt they’ll change anything in that regard as they never do with art and core lighting and never added gloss back to 24. That’s another thing about games vs real life. I think the gloss makes a game appear more lifelike as it adds a certain element of vibrancy aka life to it. But I do like what I’m seeing with lighting on the player models. The models themselves appear identical to years past but the way they’re lit does look good. It’s like they have them akin to what “full sweat lighting” in 2K23 looks like and sharpened even that up more.

The only thing that gives me hope is that it looks like other arenas have brighter crowd lighting than the Celtics. Not quite like 2k23's but better than the Celtics. Hopefully that was part of the community feedback and 2K makes adjustments.

Something else I've noticed about the player models is that they look better in motion when ProPlay is used. I was watching a video highlighting Tatum and his walking dribbling animation resembled Tatum's posture and body language.

[sawicki]

Quote: Originally Posted by AIRJ23

Yeah I definitely don’t think PC won’t apply here since I’m sure it’s gonna look better than new gen consoles. These new gen consoles honestly have been the most underwhelming of any console jump that I can remember. Not seeing the revolutionary graphics I thought I would.

Thier old now, still more reliable than pcs tho

[nitsujneal]

Quote: Originally Posted by EccentricMeat

The difference between the two is insane. The players look so much more real in 2K25, 2K24 looks legitimately a generation behind in that respect.

I genuinely think this is the best looking 2K of this generation. They vastly improved skin tones, player lighting, and overall sharpness / vibrance. Courts may not pop like they did from 21-23, but they aren’t as dull and non-reflective as 24. They achieved a happy medium, that probably more resembles what’s displayed in real life.