Despite the ongoing popularity of MT 2K22 the series, the absence of focus on improving the annual installments affected the sales for "NBA 2K21." This negative impact of sales could increase with "NBA 2K22" because it has failed to improve the level of quality that the franchise has. The game has been able to improve its graphics steadily, but that's not enough when the game lacks substance elsewhere.
The biggest problem with "NBA 2K22" is how dull and unrealistic its gameplay is. Loading into an offline game shows the flaws of the non-player-controlled (NPC) teammates and rivals. Throughout the show, the player is able to see these players run beyond their bounds without reason, or shoot in a way that isn't realistic, and make incredibly poor basketball choices. The accuracy of the computer-controlled players was once a strength of the show, however there hasn't been any improvements on this front since the start of the 2010s.
The lack of focus on this feature is happening together with the rise of "MyTeam" and "MyCareer," two game modes of "NBA 2K22" which provide the player with an unbeatable advantage only attainable if they use more real money to make their team or their player better. These two games are the most popular, and it's hard to compete without spending more money.
The game's biggest moneymaker NBA 2K MT, "MyTeam," is very similar to the earlier two installments. The game's premise is purchasing an "card pack" of concealed basketball players (players purchase a "card pack" hoping to find an elite player, like Michael Jordan or Lebron James. This is gambling, and is a disgrace to those who already bought $70 to purchase the initial price to play the game.
