NEW YORK, April 2, 2021 – The NBA 2K League today announced a landmark multiyear partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (“SIE”) that makes PlayStation®5 (PS5™) the official console of the NBA 2K League. Beginning this month, the 23 NBA 2K League teams and 138 players in the league will compete on PS5 during games and events. The partnership marks the first-of-its-kind for PS5 consoles with an esports league, and the first console partnership for the NBA 2K League, which will tip off its fourth season in May.
“NBA 2K League players are the best in the world at what they do, so it’s only fitting that they compete on the best gaming equipment in the world,” said NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue. “PlayStation is a long-standing global leader in interactive entertainment, and we are thrilled to be able to leverage their gaming expertise and technology to create the optimal experience for NBA 2K League players and fans.”
To tip off the partnership, PS5 will serve as the presenting partner of the upcoming “NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown,” which will take place Friday, April 9 – Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m. ET. The online 3-on-3 tournament will feature NBA 2K League players, fans and social media influencers, all competing in NBA 2K21’s “The City” for a share of a $25,000 prize pool. Fans can watch the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown games on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Prior to the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown, PlayStation will host an online “Three for All Showdown Qualifier” tournament on Monday, April 5 – Tuesday, April 6 for PS5 players based in the United States. The winner of the online 1-on-1 qualifier tournament will go on to compete on a 3-on-3 team with two influencers in the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown competition on Friday, April 9 – Saturday, April 10*.
Throughout the partnership, the NBA 2K League plans to host global fan tournaments featuring league-related prizing through PlayStation’s Competition Center, an online platform that offers exclusive content, tips and tricks from the best players in the world and live coverage of some of the biggest esports events in the world.
In the coming months, PlayStation and the NBA 2K League will collaborate on a custom content series that will run during NBA 2K League broadcasts and on the league’s social and digital channels. Additionally, PlayStation will have a presence in league broadcasts through branding and signage in the league’s physical and virtual studios.
Additional details about the 2021 NBA 2K League season will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information on the NBA 2K League, fans can follow the NBA 2K League on Twitter (NBA2KLeague), Instagram (nba2kleague), Facebook (NBA 2K League), TikTok (nba2kleague), Twitch (NBA2KLeague) and YouTube (NBA 2K League) and visit NBA2KLeague.com.
*See full rules. Participation in NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown is subject to satisfaction of all NBA 2K League requirements.
“PlayStation” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Multiyear partnership will see NBA 2K League teams and players compete on PS5 during games and events.
