NBA 2K9 Dominates Basketball Sales
by 
The full Top 20 in sales for October has been released by NPD. NBA 2K9 placed at #9 with the 360 version selling 202,000 copies while the PS3 version came in at #17. Not even the 360 version of NBA Live 09 was able to reach the Top 20.
This is a huge increase year over year for the NBA 2K series. 2K8 didn’t make the Top 10 last year meaning it sold less than 117,000 copies on the 360. While many sports titles haven’t seemed to grow much with increased user base clearly this isn’t the case here. 2K9 has practically doubled 2K8’s first month results.
For the sake of comparison with another 2K Sports title, MLB 2K8 (360) sold 237,000 in it’s first month. However that was as a console exclusive. If NBA 2K9 had been the only basketball title available on the 360 it probably would’ve sold more in the area of 300,000+.
While it is no surprise that 2K9 would outsell Live on the 360, I doubt many would’ve expected 2K9’s PS3 version to top Live’s 360 as well. This is generally what happens though when a game starts being widely regarded as the preferred choice. Despite 2K9 not having the flashy features or marketing push it appears to have widened the margin between the two. Next year will show whether all these new purchasers will be loyal ones or if some of the problems that have been experienced so far this year (primarily with online play) open things up for Live to regain some ground.
November 14, 2008 at 8:16 pm
IF U ANT FIRST YER LAST
Im glad 2k9 blew them out maybe ea sports will make live better i hope =)
November 14, 2008 at 8:17 pm
PASTA
November 14, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Pasta,
This brings me back to an earlier observation I made. EA needs to do a major price drop next year, as 2K did in 2005. $29.99 + in-game advertising (as you had mentioned for a possible free version of the game on the PC platform) to recoup loses.
November 14, 2008 at 8:30 pm
@ JR (cabrillo24):
I suspect (though I don’t know for sure) that the NBA mandates all three licensed console games (2K, Live, The Inside) release for the same price just as they require they all release on the same day.
November 14, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Well, the consumers have clearly spoken.
The better game has much better sales.
Hopefully EA takes notice and strives to put out a better game next year.
Competition breeds excellence for the gaming industry IMO, and we, the consumers, end up winning as a result. . .
November 14, 2008 at 8:52 pm
datz wut i’m talkin bout B-BALL & even BETTA 2K9
GREAT POST PASTA ( & I AIN’T EVEN read it yet)
if ur NOT 1st ur Last
November 14, 2008 at 9:12 pm
pasta, please give us an update on a patch to fix the inbound glitch/ freezing. thanks
November 14, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Live will never gain ground….people care about gameplay, and Live has yet to figure that out….I could care less about online play….just a bunch of whiners online who call everything “cheese” which is the most annoying videogame word ever! People can play how they wanna play….anyway, it’s all about the gameplay….
November 14, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I don’t think Live will never gain ground…a lot of people said that about FIFA and NHL, and look at NHL 2K and PES. The NHL 2K series is fading fast and PES has a big hole to climb out of now. Three years ago it was a whole different story.
November 14, 2008 at 9:57 pm
This game will cause eventual amputation of my thumb. Its that good and the consumers have seen the light. 2K heads have known for years that Live current version was always several years behind the 2K product. Visual Concepts just gets it when it comes to bball games. I really feel bad for you live stans only because your stubborness is causing you miss out on the most realistic sports video game to hit the market in forever.
November 14, 2008 at 10:01 pm
This officially makes me the happiest man alive especially after seeing 007. And yes we have been and always will be loyal especially since Live has been horrible since 06, and no Live will never gain back any ground cause 2k just is better and they have worked on the online stuff and I havent had a problem since. So who cares about a boot camp mode or whatever that is and the horrible crossover stick and the boring dunks and the useless Live365. Had to get that out ive had this argument too much to not let the live fans know.
November 14, 2008 at 10:59 pm
2k9 is just the better game with better gameplay and IMO better graphics. The day I got the game, there was a station with 2k9 in it and I guy who came in to buy Live changed his mind after playing it for 5 mins. I know you Live lovers hate to admit it, but 2k wins hands down. Too bad there’s no College Hoops or else Ncaa B-ball would get outsold as well.
November 14, 2008 at 11:26 pm
2k7 was better than LIVE 07, NBA BASKETBALL (2k4) was better than LIVE 2004. 2K basketball has always been, IMO, better than LIVE. You people were slow to respond, so many copycats and followers were still playing live, saying it was better, when it wasn’t, and hasn’t been for years, LIVE 2003 was the last LIVE that was better than a 2k basketball offering. Thats six years ago! Finally, sales are starting to match what this high level title has deserved. LIVE has been boring, stale, lazy, unrealistic, FOR YEARS! Get rid of the two buttons to shoot garbage. I have been saying that for Years! I laugh at anyone who STILL thinks LIVE is more exciting, more accurate, or just more than 2K. Please, take your Ritalin, and focus, LIVE is Trash, a marketing cash cow, but the game is weak. Even LIVING ROSTERS IS BETTER THAN ALL THAT SYNERGY GARBAGE.
November 14, 2008 at 11:31 pm
REAL BALLAS play LIVE u digg?
I aint NEVA met a THUG who play dat 2K BULLSH..JUS DA BITTIES
November 14, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Next year will show whether all these new purchasers will be loyal ones or if some of the problems that have been experienced so far this year (primarily with online play) open things up for Live to regain some ground.
Excellent post pasta until this lil tidbit. could it be more obvious your getting paid by EA lol….dont want that monthly check to stop coming I understand bro…..
November 15, 2008 at 12:03 am
A few more facts from vgchartz.
2k9 increased sales by 40% from last year
last week the sales of live 08 are almost topped the sales of live 09
so far (5 weeks) nearly 3 times more 2k9 has been sold, than live 09
PASTA is right, 2k9 doesnt have ‘flashy features’ or ‘marketing push’, but has got realistic gameplay and amazing animations and the trust of many ballers.
PASTA is talking about well-known problems during the online play, but still, nba 2k9 has overscored live 09 in every major critic sites, at least by 10%, so I would not worry about nba 2k10.
EA should consider this, something went wrong (about 5 years ago) with this frenchise, they should pull their heads out of the sand, stop pushing the marketing and empty features, otherwise in 3 years 2k shall have the only nba game in the market.
November 15, 2008 at 12:07 am
This is the first year I’ve bought 2K9 over Live. Just bought it today, actually. I always thought Live was more fun, but this year I thought the demo of 2K9 was pretty damn good. One game in, and so far I like it.
But all the Live bashers 2K lovers I look toward with disdain. Just because you prefer one over the other, doesn’t make you right, and if you think so, you’re an idiot. And anybody bashing Pasta for be being biased, when I’ve seen him be nothing but fair, is an idiot as well.
November 15, 2008 at 12:16 am
Last thought:
Many people bought 2k9 PC version thru steam, so it has obviously decreased console sales slightly. Fan patches, cyber face updates are already coming out, like in the 90’s for LIVE. This is another aspect, why 2k have a bright future.
November 15, 2008 at 12:29 am
I think this is great. This proves that 2K can easily compete with EA and top them. This goes to show you that all those BS gimmicky features dont mean jack if your game plays like trash….well unless you are the only game in town, then you can have those BS gimmicks and trash gameplay and remain on top. Great job to all the B-Ball fans who didnt buy into the hype and actually bought the better game.
November 15, 2008 at 12:35 am
@ BC:
BC, stop being rightous, You are the one, who is calling others an idiot. Pasta’s got his opinion, others has a different point of view. We disagree, but its primitive to call someone idiot for that.
November 15, 2008 at 1:21 am
BC are you 12? lol
November 15, 2008 at 4:02 am
lmao 2k did damage this year. I love it! Ea Sports is trash it hasnt been good since live 05, madden 05. All the new features they add never get better. (dunk contest, COllege legend, superstarmode,etc…) EA always puts out features but they never grow. there always the same. I mean the dunk contest hasnt changed dunks since it was introduced. Same 720,540, X2 under the leg dunks. I guarantee that next years madden (adapting to the gamer) will be pushed 2 the side. I wouldnt doubt if the 365 dna thing isnt scrapped in 2-3 years jus like the rest of the features.
November 15, 2008 at 6:16 am
Somewhere…
Darth Moore (Peter Moore): You will sign an exclusive agreement with EA Sports so that we will have sole authority in producing an NBA basketball game.
The NBA: We will sign an exclusive agreement with EA Sports so that you will have sole authority in producing an NBA basketball game.
Darth Moore: You will do this immediately.
The NBA: Yes, Lord Moore.
November 15, 2008 at 6:45 am
imagine if 2k never lost the NFL License,hummm!!! EA would be in serious trouble!!
November 15, 2008 at 7:16 am
Pasta,
This mandate didn’t exist for 2K in 2005 when they released their games for $19.99 a piece?
November 15, 2008 at 9:04 am
Pasta do you know what percentage does the NBA take in for the sales of these games?
November 15, 2008 at 9:17 am
we all knew this was gonna happen, better game play is the main thing
2k9>live09
November 15, 2008 at 9:59 am
It is encouraging to see word of mouth working. If you went solely on the name brand, EA would get the vote, but 2K has done a great job of making an excellent game and that game has become the standard.
This is Visual Concepts. They were behind NFL 2K5, and we know what that game did. They are now behind MLB and the NHL. It goes back to the leadership of Greg and Jeff Thomas. I really believe they have been the only legitimate threat to the EA Sports powerhouse.
If they can put out a solid MLB title, they will be in great position.
November 15, 2008 at 10:00 am
I sey it AGAN
2K=DA BITTIES
LIVE=REAL BALLAS
DA TROOF will set U FREE
November 15, 2008 at 10:15 am
@ JR (cabrillo24):
I believe the current license that the companies agreed to was re-upped after then, so what we have now is different than what they could do back then. There were attempts made at going for an exclusive but the NBA didn’t want that. So they put certain things in place to make it an even playing field. That included the Street & Ballers alternating years requirement, which now both EA and Midway are buying themselves out of.
November 15, 2008 at 10:16 am
Forget online play. If EA wises up & puts gameplay 1st then maybe Live will regain some ground. This kinda reminds me of the election. Americans were tired of being screwed for the past 8 years & finally did the right thing by electing Obama. Gamers were tired of being screwed by EA & did the right thing by buying 2k9. Maybe this will give EA the kick in the ass that they need & give them a wake up call. The only way to make EA improve their games is buy hitting them where it hurts them the most THEIR POCKETS! EA should take the whole year just working on gameplay, hire some better developers, & make the best Live possible. Forget features & online play for now, the gameplay is what is hurting Live. Oh yea & it’s time for new player models too.
November 15, 2008 at 10:27 am
Pasta, you say that 2k’s poor online play this year will determine if people remain loyal, well that’s assuming the most people play online. I got news for you Pasta, although you may put a lot of stock in online play, there are many others like myself who don’t. In fact, statistics show that the majority of gamers don’t even play online. So I find it somewhat discouraging that you seem to base a game’s value soley on online play. That seems to be EA’s problem as well. They put too much stock in features but lack gameplay. That tactic can only fool people for so long. If you build something on a weak foundation as EA has with Live, then it will eventually crumble. That is why 2k outsold Live this year.
November 15, 2008 at 10:28 am
@ Josh:
In the last 2 years, EA’s slogen was: BACK TO BASICS, but they did not do that, rather added some useless features. The reason is rebuilding the hole gane-engine is too much money and time.
Fortunatelly the NBA was smart enough (or grasping enough) not to give the license exclusively to EA, otherwise Live would have only roster updates year by year…
November 15, 2008 at 10:36 am
@ Josh:
“That is why 2k outsold Live this year.”
And that’s why 2k8 outsold live08,
that’s why 2k7 outsold live07.
They should learn from these lessons.
November 15, 2008 at 11:12 am
NBA 2K9 is the best NBA game I’ve played. I didn’t buy an NBA game last year, but I’m so glad I bought 2K9. I gave up on Live after 06. That game was pathetic.
November 15, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Justin tuck wrote:
So I’m a child, unable to understand the vast EA conspiracy that Pasta Padre is involved in that you can see clearly?
November 15, 2008 at 12:28 pm
ReignMan wrote:
I’m not saying having a differing opinion makes someone an idiot. I’m saying trying to shove a viewpoint onto someone and ridiculing anyone who disagrees with it makes a person an idiot. Whether that topic is religion, politics, or which basketball video game is the most fun. Pasta gets bashed here for trying to be fair and balanced. Is that not idiocy?
November 15, 2008 at 3:13 pm
i feel sorry for all those people that got nba2k9 that game sucks talk about give n money away $60 for a game that want let u play defense and da online play sucks. whole lot of people mad on this one. if u think im bullshit n go on youtube
November 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Online is the most overrated part of console gaming IMO.
Me and my friends never online game, at all. . . .
If EA would start to see this, as JOSH has mentioned in previous posts, than maybe they would actually work on the gameplay versus these stupid gimmicks.
But like someone else said, EA has been second to NBA 2K for how many years now, and they still don’t understand.
I won’t be holding my breath that EA actually “gets it” next year. . .
November 15, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I want an even playing field on NFL football games. wtf Goddell and Taligubue.
November 15, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Unless Live comes out with a game mode like NBA the life or something astounding I’m going to stick with 2k.
November 15, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Actually this is the 1st year 2k has outsold live on 360 EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! look it up! if you doubt I can post the figures for you.
November 15, 2008 at 9:34 pm
“Despite 2K9 not having the flashy features or marketing push it appears to have widened the margin between the two.”
If only EA could wake up and smell the sucess of 2k9… its about GAMEPLAY EA, not flashy features
November 16, 2008 at 12:34 am
As you can see, despite having online capabilties, most posters here treat online play like the third thing you do, first you can franchise, then play your buddies, and Third, go online and face Kobe or Lebron. I’ll take the second choice anyday.Online is better for fps games. or Gears over the shoulder style.
November 16, 2008 at 6:01 am
smokez4Dayz wrote:
very true… although online sports game sounds interesting the only people i really want to play against are my friends, not some random guy online. Im a huge franchiser and thats why 2k9 has me hooked… now if only madden could improve their gameplay and renew their franchise i would actually buy it next year
November 17, 2008 at 2:20 pm
great to hear they put out a buged out game and still made money thats great.
December 17, 2008 at 9:43 am
unless they fix the OTP next year I will rent NBA LIVE 10 and see if it is worth buying over NBA 2k10 if its not i just wont get a basketball game.