Is the NBA 2K23 Championship Edition Worth It?
For dedicated and hardcore NBA 2K fans who plan to play 2K23 extensively, the Championship Edition is absolutely worth the $149.99 price tag. However, more casual players or those just looking to try out the game may be better off sticking with the standard edition.
As a long-time 2K gamer myself, I fully recommend the Championship Edition for anyone who will invest serious time across MyTEAM, MyCAREER, and other modes. The bonuses provide massive value, saving you tons of VC and hours of grinding. But casual gamers can certainly get by fine with just the standard version.
What the Championship Edition Includes
The NBA 2K23 Championship Edition bundles some seriously enticing bonuses, especially for MyTEAM and MyCAREER players:
- 100,000 Virtual Currency (around $50 value based on VC prices)
- 10,000 MyTEAM points
- 10 MyTEAM tokens
- Sapphire Devin Booker and Ruby Michael Jordan MyTEAM cards
- Lifetime 10% XP boost for MyTEAM and MyCAREER
- Jordan-themed go-kart vehicle in MyCAREER
- Dual access on both current and next-gen consoles
According to popular YouTuber DBG who opens a ton of MyTEAM packs, the 100K VC alone provides around $50 worth of value. So you‘re essentially paying an extra $100 for all the other bonuses.
Key Benefits for Serious 2K Players
Here‘s a deeper look at why the Championship Edition can be well worth it if you plan to play NBA 2K23 extensively:
Huge Advantage in MyCAREER
Starting with 100K VC gives your MyPLAYER an instant boost up to around an 85 overall rating before even playing a game. Here‘s a look at estimated VC costs to increase your overall rating:
| Overall Rating | Estimated VC Cost |
|---|---|
| 60 -> 75 | 30,000 VC |
| 75 -> 80 | 50,000 VC |
| 80 -> 85 | 65,000 VC |
| Total | 145,000 VC |
As you can see, the 100K VC included saves you tons of costly upgrades and grinding time. You can invest more VC into cosmetics instead of attributes.
The go-kart also lets you zip around the City much quicker to get to games and shops. Reddit users estimate it saves at least 20 minutes per hour played. That time adds up!
Big Competitive Advantage in MyTEAM
For MyTEAM players, the bonuses give you a great early advantage when building your dream squad. The VC lets you open packs and the 10,000 points helps you get started in Triple Threat offline.
The lifetime 10% XP boost will save you hours over the course of the year reaching higher Collector Levels. Here‘s how much more XP you can earn over time:
| Collector Level | Standard XP | 10% Boost XP | Extra XP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 150,000 | 165,000 | 15,000 |
| 50 | 270,000 | 297,000 | 27,000 |
| 60 | 450,000 | 495,000 | 45,000 |
As you can see, that bonus XP really starts to add up! It saves you tons of tedious grinding.
Dual Access on PS4/PS5 or Xbox One/Series X
The ability to freely play on both console generations is also great. If you eventually plan on upgrading from PS4 to PS5 for example, you won‘t lose all your MyTEAM collections and MyCAREER progress.
In the past, your data was locked to one generation. So dual access provides some nice future-proofing and flexibility.
Strong Resale Value
Looking at current prices for last year‘s Championship Edition, it‘s retaining its value very well:
- NBA 2K22 Championship Edition (PS5) – Still $100+ on eBay
- NBA 2K22 Championship Edition (Xbox Series X) – Still $80+ on eBay
So you can expect to recoup a good chunk of the cost if reselling next year‘s copy. Special editions tend to hold value much better.
Is the Standard Edition Enough?
For casual NBA 2K players who only play occasionally, you can certainly get by just fine with the standard $59.99 edition.
The core gameplay and modes are all still intact. You‘ll just miss out on the powerful boost from the bonuses included in the Championship Edition.
If it‘s your first time playing 2K, I‘d recommend starting with the standard edition to get a feel for the game. You can always upgrade to the Championship Edition later on if you get really into MyTEAM and MyCAREER.
The standard edition may also be the way to go if you‘re on a tighter budget. An extra $100 is a lot to shell out if you‘re low on funds. No shame in sticking to the base version of the game!
Don‘t Forget About Locker Codes!
One final thing to consider is that 2K regularly puts out limited locker codes that provide free rewards. Here are some examples from NBA 2K23 so far:
- JORDAN-FOR-A-YEAR – Free Michael Jordan MyTEAM card
- 2KDAY-IN-MYTEAM – Free Hall of Fame badge pack
- MYTEAM-COMMUNITY-HUB – Chance at Diamond Jordan shoe
Locker codes like these can give your MyTEAM squad a nice boost without spending extra VC. I routinely punch in codes from @2KLockerCodes on Twitter to stock up on consumables, players, and other rewards.
While locker codes aren‘t guaranteed, they offer chances to earn VC, packs, and other loot totally free.
Verdict: Worth It for Serious Fans
At the end of the day, my verdict is that the NBA 2K23 Championship Edition is easily worth it for hardcore fans planning to play 2K23 extensively. The huge amount of VC and other bonuses will save you a ton of grinding time in MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and other modes.
But if you‘re just casually playing 2K23, buying it primarily for Play Now games with friends, the standard edition may suit you perfectly fine. You can always upgrade later on if you get hooked.
As someone who has bought the special edition for years and spends far too much time playing 2K, I can confidently recommend the Championship Edition to fellow dedicated players. But your needs may ultimately depend on your level of fandom and available funds this year!