Just in time for the tip-off to start a new NBA season, NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition has been released on the App Store for Apple devices, including MacBooks and Mac desktops.

And like its predecessor, the game is only available through an Apple Arcade subscription — at least for the time being. That means Android owners are once again getting the cold shoulder from developer 2K. Bummer.

It requires about 3.8GB of storage on iPhones, while 6.3GB is required on other devices. Additionally, you’ll need a unit running the following to play:

• iPhone: iOS 13.0 or later.
• iPad: iPadOS 13.0 or later
• iPod touch: iOS 13.0 or later
• Mac: macOS 11.0 or later
• Apple TV: tvOS 13.0 or later

A subscription costs $4.99 monthly (or P249 if you live in the Philippines), and although we never liked the idea of keeping a subscription to play our favorite mobile games, Apple’s Netflix of mobile gaming does have a bunch of interesting games on offer. Not to mention, its catalog will only grow with time.

As for the game itself, NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition unsurprisingly stays true to its namesake, offering a watered-down NBA 2K experience that delivers the authentic visuals of its console and PC counterpart, but painfully lacks the sounds to compliment the action on the screen.

SEE ALSO: NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition: Gameplay, compatible devices

There’s no color commentary or other touches to accentuate the original game’s TV-presentation style. And you don’t get MyTeam, MyNBA, The W, and, understandably, the depth and customizability of MyCareer for other platforms.

Still, NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition does look and play great, certainly worthy of an install if you are already paying for Arcade. It’s a game basketball fans will enjoy while they’re away from their console or PC.

Here are our quick takeaways from the few hours we spent playing it.

• NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition includes all current NBA teams and has mostly updated rosters. Sadly, there are no classic teams or All-Star squads to play here.
• The visuals and animations look solid overall, as expected. And the game runs as well as possible on our iPhone 12 Pro and M1-based Mac computers.
• Similar to NBA 2K22 for consoles and PC, the new Arcade Edition puts huge emphasis on the game’s defensive mechanics, rewarding players who pay attention to both sides of the court.
• Similarly, the defensive AI has been greatly improved, creating a more challenging experience no matter which mode you play.
• Arcade Edition’s slimmed-down MyCareer will let you pick the team you want to play for. There’s no Cancha Del Mar cruise ship or City on NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition, so in terms of exploration and RPG elements, the game is pretty light.
• You can play online multiplayer with random players or with other people on your local network.

NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition trailer

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