Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Beta Starts August 21: Call of Duty NEXT, Campaign and Kill Block Explained

In Path of Exile Patch 3.29 Curse of the Allflame, Stacked Deck is a special type of Divination Card. Using it randomly grants you another Divination Card.

The value of different Divination Cards varies greatly. Stacked Decks can yield low-value cards, but also have a chance to reward high-value Unique Items, Currency, or other rare rewards. You can sell them directly or accumulate them to open in bulk.

This farming strategy recommended by EZG.com can help you reliably acquire numerous Stacked Decks. If you don't want to invest heavily in PoE Currency for map preparation, this strategy is worth trying.

Advantages

The biggest advantage of this strategy isn't the theoretically high yield of Stacked Decks, but the diverse sources of income. During map runs, Stacked Deck, Ritual, Eater of Worlds Altars, Omen, Scarab, and other PoE Currencies all provide rewards.

Even if a map has a low Stacked Deck drop rate, it doesn't necessarily mean the overall reward is low, as other rewards may compensate.

Compared to gambling on a Mirror-level drop, this playstyle emphasizes consistent accumulation. Furthermore, its investment and system requirements are low, requiring no particularly complex map preparation.

It also doesn't demand excessive character strength; as long as you can consistently clear the map, you can continuously farm Path of Exile Stacked Deck and other rewards.

Farming Strategy

For maps, Tier 16 8-Mod Jungle Valley is recommended, primarily because its boss doesn't spawn during normal runs, thus avoiding boss-related Eldritch Altar options. Choosing an 8-mod map is also beneficial because PoE map affixes typically provide higher pack sizes, further increasing the number of monsters on the map.

The most significant benefit of this strategy comes from Doedre's Devoted. Each Divination Scarab of the Cloister adds 40-60 stacks of Doedre's Devoted to the map. Using 5 Scarabs simultaneously, a single Path of Exile map can theoretically add 200-300 stacks of Doedre's Devoted.

These monsters have a fixed 5% drop rate for Stacked Deck. Rather than simply pursuing a higher POE item quantity, prioritizing the increase in Doedre's Devoted quantity is more beneficial.

Pack size is a secondary benefit. While it doesn't directly target Stacked Deck like increasing Doedre's Devoted, a higher Pack Size increases the overall number of monsters on the map, making them more densely distributed and thus increasing overall benefit and efficiency.

When farming, prioritize using Eldritch Altars where Basic Currency has a chance to be duplicated. This is because Stacked Deck is a Basic Currency and therefore has the potential to be copied. For example, if 10 Stacked Decks drop at once and duplication is triggered, you'll gain an additional 10.

Rituals also affect Stacked Deck production. If Doedre's Devoted die near a Ritual, Ritual may re-summon these monsters later. When farming, prioritize finding Eldritch Altars before dealing with Rituals to avoid missing the altar for duplicating POE Currency after completing a Ritual prematurely.

If many Doedre's Devoted die near a particular Ritual, prioritize dealing with that Ritual to increase the chance of these monsters reappearing in subsequent Rituals, maximizing the benefits from the same group of monsters and speeding up the process.

Atlas Tree

This strategy doesn't require you to max out Atlas Tree from the start. Prioritize configuring talents around Ritual, Shrine, and Eater of Worlds, and adjust remaining points based on Path of Exile market price.

First, Shrine Nodes. The focus here isn't just on Shrine itself, but on using Atlas Tree to reduce other League Mechanics, thereby increasing the chance of Ritual spawns on maps. Shrines that spawn on maps also provide various temporary buffs, such as increased movement, attack, or defense, making map clearing smoother.

Ritual Chance passive skills are a key part of your Atlas Tree strategy, as Ritual is one of the primary sources of income for this farming strategy.

Occult Devotion is especially important, as it ensures a fixed 4 Ritual Altars spawn on each map. This provides relatively stable income even if monster and loot distribution fluctuates across different maps.

Next are Scarab-related passive skills. This doesn't need to be completely fixed; you can adjust based on the current market price in POE Patch 3.29. If Ambush Scarab is expensive, you can choose the corresponding Passive Skill to increase your income.

Finally, don't overlook Eater of Worlds Altar-related Passive Skills. Eater Altars aren't the core of this strategy, but they provide additional currency and other Path of Exile loot without requiring any changes to your map-running strategy.

Overall Gains

Ritual rewards in POE Curse of the Allflame have a significant degree of randomness; the number of Stacked Decks on a single map can vary greatly.

Overall, running approximately 20 maps yields around 1,000 Stacked Decks, several Divine Orbs, multiple Audience With The King, hundreds of Chaos Orbs, and some high-value Omens, for a total gain of over twenty Divines.

Enjoying our PoE content? Follow EZG Facebook via the top navigation bar and we also run giveaways now and then, so keep an eye out for what's coming next!

If you're looking for a farming strategy in Path of Exile 3.29 Curse of the Allflame that doesn't require an enormous investment but allows for continuous Stacked Deck accumulation, then this approach is worth trying. Of course, Stacked Deck drops still have a degree of randomness, so I recommend treating it more as a long-term farming strategy.

Gemcutter's Prism (GCP) is a crucial currency in Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame. It's used to upgrade the quality of Skill Gems and Support Gems. Each GCP increases a gem's quality by 1%, typically up to a maximum of 20%.

Quality upgrades provide various bonuses depending on the gem type, potentially including higher damage, area-of-effect effects, or unique enhancements.

This article explains how to obtain and use Gemcutter Prisms in Path of Exile 3.29. Let's get started.

How to Obtain It?

There are many ways to acquire GCP, including random drops, trading with specific merchants or players, and Divination Card Exchanges.

Random Drops

Gemcutter's Prisms can drop from any killable enemy and destructible container or chest in PoE 3.29. While classified as rare, they have a relatively low drop level requirement of only level 12.

For players hoping to acquire Gemcutter's Prisms this way, Artisan's Strongboxes are a good starting point, as they have a relatively high drop rate for common items. At the same time, I highly recommend using an Item Filter to ensure you don't miss these small but valuable prisms among other drops.

Trading with Merchants

The merchant system provides the most reliable and repeatable way to obtain Gemcutter's Prisms, allowing players to convert unwanted gems into valuable currency:

Single Perfect Gem Recipe

Sell any single gem of 20% or higher to a town merchant to receive one PoE Gemcutter's Prism. This is the simplest recipe.

Total Quality Sum Recipe

You can sell any number of gems to a merchant, as long as their total quality is 40% or higher, to receive one Gemcutter's Prism. For most players on Path of Exile 3.29, this is an excellent way to clear out large amounts of low-quality gems from their inventory.

Important Notes

Merchants do not calculate the total quality of all gems in the trading window. Instead, they evaluate gems in a specific order and group them until the total quality of gems within a group reaches 40%.

Once a group reaches the 40% quality requirement, it is removed from the calculation. Any gems exceeding 40% quality (e.g., 2% exceeding the total quality of 42%) are discarded and will not carry over to the next group.

Simply put, a gem's quality cannot be used in two different recipes simultaneously. Finally, any remaining gems that cannot form a new 40% quality group will be returned to you in base currency.

Divination Card Exchanges

Specific Divination Cards can be exchanged for Gemcutter's Prisms, as follows:

The Gemcutter

Three The Gemcutter cards guarantee one GCP. However, this card has specific drop restrictions and can only be obtained from Gemcutter's Strongboxes.

The Union

Collecting seven The Union cards guarantees ten Gemcutter's Prisms. This card generally drops in Cemetery Map and Oba's Cursed Trove.

Emperor's Luck

This card differs slightly from the previous two. Collecting five Emperor's Luck cards grants five random currency items, which may include Gemcutter's Prisms, but are not guaranteed.

The Master Artisan

Similar to Emperor's Luck, the currency items obtained from The Master Artisan are also random. Collecting five The Master Artisan cards grants random currency items.

Player Trading

For players who need to quickly acquire a large number of Gemcutter's Prisms, trading with other players is the most direct method. Many experienced players hoard large amounts of currency items for trading.

Usage Strategies and Precautions

Level 20 Gem Vendor Recipe

The most important and efficient use of GCPs is undoubtedly Level 20 Gem Vendor Recipe. However, it's important to note that in PoE 3.29, this recipe can only be used with Support Gems.

Giving a level 20 gem and a Gemcutter's Prism to the vendor will grant you a level 1 gem of the same type with 20% quality. This is highly efficient because only one Gemcutter's Prism is needed to achieve 20% quality bonus, whereas normally 20 prisms are required to achieve the same effect.

Each Support Gem saves 19 prisms, which adds up to a considerable amount across your gear setup. Therefore, many players specifically upgrade additional Support Gems in their spare weapon sets for this purpose.

Choosing Right Gem

Gem quality bonuses vary. Support gems typically provide higher damage, while skill gems may offer area-of-effect effects, casting speed, projectile speed, or unique mechanics. Prioritize gems that provide the greatest bonus to your specific build.

However, note that Corrupted Gems cannot be upgraded using any currency.

Level Gems in Off-Hand

Place the gems you intend to use for merchant recipes in your off-hand weapon slot. They will passively gain experience during gameplay, allowing you to craft 20% quality auxiliary gems with minimal opportunity cost.

Stockpile Low-Quality Gems

Keep the gems that drop while farming. Once your total gem quality reaches 40%, you can sell them to merchants.

This concludes the article on how to obtain and use Gemcutter's Prisms in PoE 3.29. If you want to know more, follow EZG Facebook. We also have occasional giveaways. Participating is very simple; just @ your friends in the comments section of our Facebook page.

Gemcutter's Prisms can improve gem quality, directly enhancing skill effects and helping you build a more powerful build in Path of Exile Curse of the Allflame. So if you don't have enough GCP yet, follow this guide to get some! Good luck!

Monopoly Go's Happy Harvest with Looney Tunes season has finally brought its first Golden Blitz. This event is crucial for players still catching up on their sticker collection, especially those stuck on Golden Stickers gap. They finally have a chance to break through their collection's limitations.

Based on the opening schedule of previous Golden Blitz seasons, it will probably launch 2-3 days after the voting ends, around August 21st or 22nd.

While the official date still needs confirmation, preparing trading resources in advance is definitely beneficial. Events like Golden Blitz often rely on early preparation; searching for stickers after the event starts can easily lead to missing the optimal trading window.

Golden Blitz

Golden Blitz is a limited-time Golden Stickers trading event in Monopoly Go, typically lasting 15-24 hours.

Players can obtain any number of designated Golden Stickers, but can only send a maximum of 5 Golden Stickers per event. This number does not affect the daily quota for sending regular stickers.

Sticker Introduction

Based on player voting, the two four-star Golden Stickers designated for the first Golden Blitz of Happy Harvest with Looney Tunes album are Set 13 Honey, I'm Home and Set 14 Rudy Root.

Set 13 Honey, I'm Home continues Monopoly Go's signature warm and cozy style. In the image, Mr. Monopoly sits on a sofa, with Scottie Dog quietly lying at his feet, both enjoying a comfortable home environment. This sticker has a soothing feel and is the kind of sticker many collectors would want to acquire.

Set 14 Rudy Root, on the other hand, has a completely unique style, clearly leaning more towards Looney Tunes' quirky approach. Rudy Root, wearing sunglasses and a gold necklace, strikes a stylish pose, interacting with two cartoon children beside her. The overall style is bright and lively, perfectly matching the theme of this season.

Happy Harvest with Looney Tunes season has only been underway for a short time, and many players are still gradually collecting stickers. Although it will be some time before the complete collection is complete, Golden Stickers remain a crucial part of the collection progress.

Once Golden Blitz begins, players can plan their trading targets in advance and take advantage of the event to replenish key stickers. Therefore, it is very important to organize your duplicate inventory beforehand.

Trading Strategy

To trade smoothly in Golden Blitz, the key is to prepare in advance so that you can immediately find suitable trades after the event starts.

Don't wait until the day of the event to start checking your inventory and don't wait until the last few hours to ask around for trade opportunities.

Before the event starts, check your duplicate Monopoly Go Stickers and organize your duplicate four-star and five-star stickers. Many players prioritize finding Golden Stickers they need. If you have stickers that someone else wants, you'll have a much stronger trading position.

Since Golden Blitz only offers two specific Golden Stickers at a time, and the event is relatively short-lived, exchanging for whatever you see might leave you without stickers you truly want after the event ends. Confirming your needs beforehand and using your exchange attempts wisely will maximize your gains.

Additionally, be extremely careful with trading security during Golden Blitz. The high demand and numerous players searching for specific Golden Stickers create opportunities for unreliable trades.

The most common scenario is someone offering incorrect information to lure you into exchanging, or asking you to send high-value stickers first and then disappearing. Stickers with similar names can also be misleading; always verify before trading.

The rarer Golden Sticker, the more patience is required. Don't rush to complete a trade if you don't have a suitable exchange partner; protecting your account and Sticker resources is paramount.

Beep Beep Racers Racing Event

Event Gameplay

Besides Golden Blitz, Monopoly Go will also launch a new Tycoon Racers event - Beep Beep Racers - from August 19, 2026, 1:00 PM to August 23, 2026, 3:59 PM (EDT).

Many players are already familiar with the gameplay of Tycoon Racers. During the event, players can choose to compete solo or fill their Monopoly Go Beep Beep Racers Racing Slots with other players, then earn racing points by completing daily tasks and competing for rankings. After the event ends, the system will distribute rewards based on the final rankings.

In solo mode, you need to continuously accumulate points on your own;

If you choose to team up, the activity level of your teammates becomes very important.

Therefore, compared to account level or number of favorites, a teammate who is willing to participate in the event every day often provides more stable assistance.

Event Tips

Don't rush to get a burst of speed in the early stages of Beep Beep Racers; this is a strategy adopted by many veteran Monopoly Go players.

At the start of the event, teams will test their skills, leading to rapid ranking changes.

If you immediately invest heavily in resources as soon as you see someone in the lead, you can easily deplete your advantage prematurely. A better strategy is to complete the tasks normally first, observe the competition, and then decide when to accelerate.

If your ranking is relatively stable, you can conserve some resources for the final stage. Tycoon Racers often see last-minute comebacks, so having points and resources saved makes it easier to widen the gap at crucial moments.

If you choose team mode, communicating well with your teammates about the pace is crucial when facing equally matched opponents. Avoid situations where one person continuously pushes for points while others fall behind.

Of course, the advantage of competing solo is that you have complete control over the pace and can allocate resources according to your own situation. Regardless of the method, steady accumulation is usually more effective than a one-off burst at the beginning.

Before the events begin, don't forget to follow EZG Facebook. We will give away Honey, I'm Home and Rudy Root during Golden Blitz, so @ your friends and invite more players to participate.

For Monopoly Go players, preparing before Golden Blitz is always more important than last-minute actions. Knowing in advance what you lack, what you have, and what you want to exchange will make things much easier once the event starts.

Soul Harvest event, launched on August 14th in Mistfall Hunter, is confirmed as the core gameplay of Season 1 Soul Hunt, bringing players new enemies and mechanics along with rich rewards.

While the official announcement hasn’t specified an end date for Soul Harvest, as a seasonal event, it will only exist during Season 1, making it a limited-time PvPvE event.

Furthermore, since the event isn’t permanent and requires players to randomly trigger it during matches in Hallowgrove and Brandrgarde, frequent triggering and efficient use of the mechanics to obtain rewards are currently the most pressing concerns for players.

Let’s start by understanding the basic triggering mechanism of Soul Harvest and explore how to maximize the event’s benefits.

What Is It?

The core of Mistfall Hunter Soul Harvest event is a high-risk, high-reward multiplayer competitive quest. Players need to collect special items on the map and complete a ritual at an altar to exchange for exclusive season-limited rewards.

1. Collection

After triggering Soul Harvest Event, Soul Cocoon icons will appear on the map. Players can obtain them by defeating the special elite monsters carrying them, Soul Incubators.

2. High-Risk Combat

Besides the threat of these special monsters, collecting Soul Cocoons will reveal your location to other players in the same battlefield, easily attracting others to steal your Soul Cocoons.

3. Ritual

You need to collect two Soul Cocoons and bring them to Fate Altar on the map to begin the ritual. The ritual will summon a final boss – Soulgnawer. Defeating it will drop a large amount of high-tier rare equipment, including Legendary and Holy tier items.

Here’s a tip for defeating Soulgnawer: you can have one teammate draw aggro while the other two focus their damage. This method is suitable for classes with blocking abilities, such as Mercenary or highly mobile classes like Shadowstrix.

4. Defend Fate Altar

After defeating Soulgnawer, Soul Harvest Event will begin its final 5-minute countdown. During this time, more Soul Incubators will spawn near the altar. Each time you defeat one, the remaining time will decrease by 20 seconds.

At this point, your biggest concern isn’t these elite monsters, but rather the enemy players nearby trying to steal your loot. If they successfully seize control of Fate Altar, you and your party will not receive any rewards.

5. Final Rewards

In addition to the high-level equipment obtained from defeating the boss, successfully completing Mistfall Hunter Soul Harvest Event will also reward you with special Soul Cocoon tokens.

These rewards are automatically added to your inventory upon completing Fate Altar event, meaning you won’t lose them even if you are ambushed and fail to escape.

How to Trigger It?

Based on the current game mechanics of Mistfall Hunter Season 1, while players cannot actively control the triggering of Soul Harvest Events, testing results indicate that players can increase their probability of occurrence by choosing higher difficulties on specific maps.

Especially on higher difficulty levels like Chaos and Cataclysm, Soul Harvests appear significantly more frequently on Hallowgrove or Brandrgarde than on normal difficulty.

How to Use Soul Cocoons?

Soul Cocoons, exclusive rewards of Soul Harvest Event, vary in quality depending on the map and difficulty level:

• Glimmer Soul Cocoon: Obtained in regular Hallowgrove and Brandrgarde matches;
• Brightsilver Soul Cocoon: Obtainable only in Chaos Hallowgrove matches;
• Aureate Soul Cocoon: Highest quality, but also the riskiest to obtain, obtainable only in Cataclysm Brandrgarde matches;

Take your Soul Cocoons to NPC Stinger to exchange them for various items, including Mistfall Hunter Season 1 exclusive Holy-quality collectible Soulbound Serpent Crystal, Holy Material Selection Chest, Moonlight Nectar, and Soul Coins.

Tips and Tricks

Mistfall Hunter Soul Harvest Event is highly challenging, especially for players accustomed to PvE. This event encourages PvP, requiring teams to survive multiple threats to maximize rewards. The following tips may be helpful to players.

1. Pre-Match Preparation

To obtain richer rewards, consider participating more in Chaos Hallowgrove and Cataclysm Brandrgarde matches. Soul Harvest Events triggered during these events also mean higher risks.

Therefore, it is recommended that players upgrade their character level and equipment using Mistfall Hunter Gyldenblod before the event to ensure they are not instantly killed when facing powerful bosses and PvP conflicts.

2. Class Selection

Sword & Shield Mercenary and Reverent Seer are currently the top-tier (T0) classes in Season 1, and their advantages give them higher selection weight in Soul Harvest Events.

However, after the August 12th update, Shadowstrix’s survivability and armor penetration have been weakened, making it less suitable as a front-line attacker. Its high mobility can be used to engage and disengage.

3. Ambush and Counterattack

Utilize the mechanic that reveals your location when carrying Soul Cocoons. You can see the positions of other players, allowing you to flank them from behind or sneak up on higher ground to launch an attack from a favorable position. This can be used to avoid being robbed or to initiate an attack.

However, be careful to consider your equipment strength. If you are not strong enough, you can easily be counter-killed, and losing Soul Cocoons you worked so hard to collect would be a huge loss.

Finally, during the retreat, other teams may launch a sneak attack while you are fighting the boss or mobs. Always assign one member to be on guard and scout, while the rest focus on dealing with the target.

If the opponent is too strong and you cannot complete the ritual, do not fight them head-on. Instead, trade your Soul Cocoons with the merchant Richie. Although the reward is less valuable, it is a safer option.

Overall, Mistfall Hunter Season 1 will last until around late October, giving players ample time to trigger and utilize Soul Harvest Event to level up their characters and acquire high-level rare gear.

Hopefully, this guide will help players more easily navigate the perilous PVP conflicts during the event.

A growing number of MLB The Show26 players feel that San Diego Studios' content updates following the launch of major All-Star events have been somewhat perfunctory.

However, a deeper look reveals that I believe the content updates aren't just a temporary post-event slump, but rather reflect broader systemic issues regarding the game's direction and the allocation of players' time value.

This article will analyze the issues currently plaguing MLB The Show 26 and causing player complaints.

Slow Updates

Since the launch of MLB 26 All-Star project, content updates have been incredibly slow. I believe this isn't just a temporary post-event slump, but rather the culmination of a year-long pattern.

Compared to the rapid and phased releases of content in previous years, updates in 2026 feel stagnant. Players point out that in the past, there were Team Affinity events and more complex missions throughout the year.

However, in the past six weeks, MLB 26 has seen four instances of going an entire week without any new content, a stark contrast to the previous pace.

Players reminisced about the series' history, fondly recalling the days of frequent weekly updates (e.g., a Battle Royale mode on Tuesdays, a Topps Now update on Wednesdays, and a larger event on Fridays). A wealth of content every week is what players crave.

Content Shortage

This year, game updates seem increasingly predictable, and the tasks are simpler, sometimes requiring no deliberate effort and taking only an hour or two to complete, leaving players with little to do for weeks or even longer. I recall this wasn't the case in previous years.

MLB The Show 26 has become increasingly lacking in content, and we haven't seen any quality content in a long time.

While everyone's definition of quality content differs, making generalizations difficult, for me, quality content refers to gameplay styles or modes that differ from previous releases. If we continue playing the same old way, only acquiring new cards along the way, that doesn't qualify as quality content for me.

Stagnant Gameplay and Technology

I believe the official perfunctory approach isn't just reflected in the quantity of content, but more importantly in the quality of the game itself. Many players feel the game's quality has stagnated or even regressed.

Gameplay Issues

Many criticize MLB The Show 26 as feeling like a copy-paste of its predecessor, offering almost no upgrades but even showing decreased stability. This year's new content (cosmetic changes, card modifications) is too superficial, lacking any substantial gameplay changes.

Technical Issues

Players commonly complain about inconsistent hitting (sometimes a perfect swing resulting in an out) and overly powerful AI pitchers, leading to a disconnect between skill and reward. Another recurring problem is the lack of dedicated servers, causing frequent disconnections in competitive mode, ultimately resulting in losses.

Prioritizing Profit over Innovation

Many players believe SDS prioritizes short-term profits over long-term player experience.

Shifting Game Focus

Players increasingly feel the game's focus has shifted from rewarding players' time and skill to encouraging them to trade MLB 26 Stubs for card packs.

High Difficulty in Obtaining Content

High-value collectible rewards are often locked in rare card packs, making it feel like these rewards are designed for the top 5% of players or those who spend money, rather than for ordinary players who grind diligently.

Furthermore, MLB 26 Stubs are too scarce, preventing players from effectively upgrading their teams within a reasonable timeframe. Only extremely difficult content like Extreme Showdowns can yield large amounts of stubs, which are unattainable for most casual players.

These issues reflect the game's philosophy of relying either on the exceptional skills of elite players or on significant financial investment.

One user suggested that simple gameplay actions like home runs in Conquest mode should reward a large number of stubs to increase the perceived value of repetitive tasks.

Disregard for Offline Mode

San Diego Studio currently gives the impression of neglecting offline mode, and this shift in content design is alienating a significant portion of players.

Many players cited the reduction in Conquest maps, the removal of March to October mode, and the lack of offline missions as the main reasons for their loss of interest.

Old Problems Persist

Server issues, cheaters, and insufficient new content have persisted year after year, further reinforcing players' perception that SDS is not investing enough in maintaining the game's health.

The silence following MLB The Show 26 All-Star Game highlighted a year-long period of irregular updates, stagnant gameplay, and over-reliance on monetization models, leaving players feeling neglected. For many, this wasn't just a post-season slump, but a sign that the series had reached a crossroads.

Player Expectations

Many players hope for a new event and a new Conquest map every week for MLB 26, with mini-seasons planned based on themes and other factors. The new events could be more challenging, because the current pacing is too fast.

The game studio should prioritize improving game quality. Players want something worth the wait, not mediocre content.

Offline players want more game content tailored to their needs, but currently they receive very little, and it seems the official team isn't prioritizing this.

This concludes our analysis of the issues currently plaguing MLB The Show 26. For more information, follow EZG Facebook. We also have occasional giveaways to help you quickly accumulate resources. Participating is simple: just tag your friends in the comments section of our Facebook page.

When players feel their time and loyalty have been wasted, they will ultimately choose to leave this game. And MLB 26 studios will pay the price for that irresponsible behavior.

NBA 2K27 will officially launch on September 4, 2026. Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition players can experience it early, starting August 28. NBA 2K27 gameplay strives to deliver the most balanced experience on both offense and defense, all powered by ProPlay technology.

From groundbreaking new offensive tools and animations to a redesigned defensive system, ProPlay, with its advanced machine learning capabilities, pushes the boundaries of realism in NBA 2K.

In NBA 2K27, you'll experience a complete overhaul of gameplay once you step onto the court, with players of all skill levels benefiting from more skill-based mechanics.

Offensive Tools

Players like Ant and Luka often use the step-through up and under to freeze defenders and create shooting opportunities. Now, these moves can be recreated in NBA 2K27. The signature up and under moves of players like Jonathan Mitchell have also been added to the game through ProPlay, making these moves look even more realistic.

When you're driving, posting, or performing a size up against a defender, you can first perform a pump fake, then push pro stick in one of five different directions to trigger a Step through layup or jumper in that direction. This can be more valuable than simply adding a new move.

Dynamic Layup

NBA 2K27 Dynamic Layup Engine frees layups from being entirely limited by fixed animations. As a player drives towards the basket and adjusts their body in mid-air, the system chooses a more suitable finish based on the situation, so the same layup won't always look exactly the same.

High-rating Finders now benefit more from this system. When Shot Blocker approaches, NBA 2K27 automatically adjusts Finisher's ball-handler, allowing the player to try to move the ball to a position harder for the defender to reach. The higher a player's rating, the better they are at making these adjustments in mid-air.

After entering the paint, Dynamic Layup Engine determines the final mid-air movement based on the situation. High-rating finishers are more likely to break through weaker defenders, further increasing their in-game value. You'll need more NBA 2K27 MT to acquire them.

If the actual effect reaches the level showcased in NBA 2K27, there should be fewer repetitive animations in the paint than before, and players will need to be more adept at choosing their offensive timing.

Dunk Meter

NBA 2K27 dunk system increases the demands on player skill. All dunk attempts now require timing using the dunk meter. Dunk Meter assesses defensive positioning from the moment of the jump until dunk is completed. If the slasher has shaken off the defender, the green timing window expands based on the openness.

However, if a late closeout occurs after the jump, the green area shrinks, increasing the difficulty of completing dunk. This means that an open dunk doesn't guarantee a successful completion; you can't just look at the openness before the jump, but also pay attention to defensive changes afterward.

Dribbling Customization

NBA 2K27 further expands dribbling customization, the feature that most easily differentiates you from other players. Moves that were previously part of a Signature Dribbling Package are now broken down into individual moves, allowing you to customize your dribbling setup.

For example, you can use Kyrie's Crossover and Trae Young's Hesitation, selecting the moves from different stars to create a more personalized combination.

NBA 2K27 also introduces new advanced controls. While moving, hold down right trigger and flick pro stick upwards to use that player's Signature Dribble Combo.

No-Look Pass also has a new control scheme. Hold R1 and flick pro stick towards the target teammate to perform a No-Look Pass. Alley-Oop controls are also more intuitive; the pressed button corresponds to the pass direction, helping you quickly understand the ball's trajectory and make the correct choice.

Defense Systems

NBA 2K27 redesigns Hands-Up Defense and Shot Contest. Pushing pro stick upwards allows for more aggressive hands-up defense; if already in foul trouble situation, holding down right stick helps the player maintain position for defense while reducing the risk of unnecessary fouls.

Block button in NBA 2K27 places greater emphasis on anticipation and timing. A correct judgment results in a clean block, while a misjudgment may lead to a foul or a missed shot. Shot Coverage Feedback now uses a color-coded eight-level feedback system, revealing the quality of a contest.

Each defensive player involved in a Defensive Impact Score during a shot attempt will trigger a corresponding response in the new Defensive Impact Indicator. The stronger the contest, the higher the intensity displayed by the indicator, meaning defense can become more proactive.

NBA 2K27 adds more defensive cutoff options. Defenders can quickly flick pro stick to perform One-Step Cutoff, blocking the offensive path in advance; they can also hold R2 to trigger a Lunging Cutoff, using a wider coverage area to prevent Ball Handler from continuing to penetrate.

The higher a player's Speed ​​and Agility Ratings, the better Cutoff effect. If timed correctly, defender can force ball handler into a fumble or dribble pickup.

NBA 2K27 also introduces a new collision system. When ball handler directly collides with the defender, the system considers both players' ratings to determine if the physical contact is sufficient to cause the ball handler to lose control. The new system significantly encourages defenders to utilize physical contact and steals at appropriate moments.

Ankle Breaker

Previous Ankle Breaking Crossovers largely relied on chance-based outcomes, but NBA 2K27 transforms this into a more skill-based, logic-driven system for the first time.

The new Ankle Breaker mechanism monitors defender's momentum and body position in real-time and determines if the defender can keep up with ball handler's change of direction. If ball handler suddenly changes direction, catching defender off guard, an ankle breaker is likely to be triggered.

Of course, Defender's Rating also affects the final result. Defenders need to track Dribbler's movements more accurately, while high-rating defenders have stronger recovery capabilities after misjudging.

Judging from the official gameplay footage, NBA 2K27 isn't simply adding a few more animations; it's about giving more control over the game's outcome through player actions and judgment. Through more precise animations and real-time adjustments, the developers have made the movements and abilities of different players more distinct.