New NBA 2K25 MyPLAYER badges and takeovers, explained

NBA 2K25 is promising to shake up two core MyPLAYER systems—badges and takeovers. These directly impact performance, so to make the most out of your MyPLAYER build, you’re better off knowing exactly how the new badges and takeovers work in NBA 2K25.

2K’s goal this year appears to be balancing quality and quantity. Badges, for example, have always been large in number, but oftentimes, players resort to just a few that are obviously better than others. NBA 2K25’s new systems attempt to deal with this disparity by directly tying badges and takeovers to actions and performance on the court.

NBA 2K25 MyPLAYER badges, explained

There will be 40 badges in NBA 2K25, and how effective each one is for your MyPLAYER build will depend on your base stats and your on-court actions. The more you use a badge, the faster you can level it up. The leveling system will be expanded by a new tier above Hall of Fame, called Legend, but the grind can be relieved by Badge Elevators and Cap Breakers. Badge Elevators can ascend a badge to a higher level, while Cap Breakers remove the hard cap on attributes that would otherwise limit your badge pool. Badge Perks and Performance Multipliers will make a return from 2K24.

NBA 2K25 MyPLAYER takeovers, explained

Takeovers in NBA 2K25 will rely heavily on player performance as well. There will be 72 takeovers and 14 takeover abilities in total, each targeting a different set of attributes. The numbers don’t stop there, as there are five levels of takeovers, level one being the lowest and level five the highest. Performing well on the court will fill up the takeover meter and raise your respective attributes as you level up. The true dominance comes at level five, when you can unlock takeover abilities and take over the game all by yourself.

The new NBA 2K25 badges and takeovers are supplemented by an improved MyPLAYER builder. You can run the numbers while creating your future superstar and know exactly which badges, takeovers, and signature animations they’d qualify for. You can also take your MyPLAYER to the court in a three-vs-three, five-vs-five, or a freestyle simulation and see how they’d perform at full strength.

NBA 2K25’s new approach to the MyCAREER builder, badges, and takeover systems is above all coherent, with all three elements pointing in the same direction—adding variety and quality to player customization, and tying it all up to personal performance.