To truly take the game to the next level, to nail the thousands of interconnected details that create a next generation visual experience, artists had to change the way they work, starting with the materials that make up the NBA 2K environment:

rubber, plastic, metal, and vinyl. In the past, artists would individually recreate each item, but now next-gen technology enables the team to build a library of materials with the correct index of refraction, reflection amount,

and so forth. Everything in-game, from the scorer’s table and backboards, to human elements such as skin texture and sweat, was re-created to ensure the whole package lives up to next-gen realism.