2K Sports quietly dropped some saddening news for long-time fans of arcade-style sports games. WWE 2K Battlegrounds and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 are both going to be pulled from digital stores soon, followed by complete server shutdowns this summer.
If you don’t own a copy already, you have until February 20, 2026, to grab digital copies across platforms: Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store. After that, they’re gone from digital stores, no new purchases.
Online Mode Impact
Owners will get to keep access to redownload and play offline modes, but all online features and modes will shut down on July 9, 2026. So, grab it while you can if online playability doesn’t bother you.
Both games lean hard on online unlocks. In WWE 2K Battlegrounds, you earn coins in matches that unlock new wrestlers via server-tied transactions, often boosted by real-money packs. NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has the same deal: packs get you NBA stars, from legends like Michael Jordan to modern stars, but again, it’s all in the servers.
Once the servers go down, you’re stuck with the roster and characters you’ve already got. No new updates, no new stuff.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds launched in 2020, ditching the sim-heavy gameplay for straight-up cartoonish, action-figure brawls packed with wrestling icons and wild moves. It was aimed for fun, not realism: over-the-top wrestling action.
On the other hand, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 rolled out in 2018 and basically brought back the NBA Jam vibe. Fast-paced 2v2 matches, unlockable legends, slam dunk contests, all that stuff. The perfect game for quick, fun bursts, especially if you hopped in online servers.
Last Chance To Buy
Right now, both games sit on massive discounts. On Steam, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a whopping 75% off, followed by WWE 2K Battlegrounds at 80% off. Physical copies aren’t affected by the delisting, but if you want a digital version, you’re running out of time.
For fans who loved the chaotic fun these titles offer, it is indeed a tough pill to swallow, especially since 2K seems more focused on bigger sim-heavy titles like WWE 2K26 and NBA 2K26.
