NBA 2K15 is literally ramping the game up a notch in terms of AI, with its new freelance offense feature.
Freelance offense refers to the AI movements that the players (both your team’s and your opponents’) execute when you are not running a play. Previously, even as recently as NBA 2K14, the AI would always default to the same play, making the game overly repetitive.
This video demonstrates the Spurs executing their swing motion. After doing a play, they immediately go into swing motion freelance offense. Since this freelance offense is technically not a play, it can't be broken like a play usually can. You do not have direct control on what your teammates do when the offense is ongoing. You do not even have to be in place for it to work, so the offense can succeed independently of you. Of course, if you use proper spacing, you can put yourself in the center of the action and optimize your chances of scoring.
Teams have several freelance offense cycles like this, and as you can see in this preview, they execute complex movements that were not even possible in NBA 2K14. Our source points out that for the Spurs, the key to success is ball movement and timing. Other teams may need to focus on other aspects of gameplay, that simulate real life strategies. Imagine an NBA game closer in line to a simulation, that’s what you may have to look forward to in NBA 2K15.
On the side, a fan has revealed that MyCareer will allow you to select alternate jerseys, another small but fun addition to let you play the game the way you want to.
NBA 2K15 will be released on October 7, on Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
