NBA 2K21 adds unskippable adverts into pre-game loading screens, an outlet has confirmed.
2K has added adverts that now appear inside the PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC pre-game loading screens. They’re unskippable, attached to a pre-game video called "MyTEAM Season 2, Episode 7" that’s auto-started in a loading screen that takes longer than the adverts run.
Back in September, EA made a similar move in UFC 4, by adding in-game adverts to it's replays. Due to receiving negative feedback, the publisher had to quickly remove them.
At the time, EA said:
It is abundantly clear from your feedback that integrating ads into the Replay and overlay experience is not welcome. The advertisements have been disabled by the team and we apologize for any disruption to gameplay that players may have experienced.
Customers were annoyed that they were made to watch unskippable adverts after paying for a full-priced game. Perhaps, NBA 2K21 will charge players extra should they wish to play the current-gen title on next-gen devices.
NBA 2K21 is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia and Windows PC. It heads to Xbox Series X and Series S on 10 November, followed by PS5 on 12 November.