Did NBA 2K24 Remove 92 and Under Rec Center Matchmaking in Latest Patch?

NBA 2K24, the latest installment of the popular basketball simulation game, released its update 1.3 patch on September 25, 2023 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The patch notes included some minor fixes and improvements for gameplay, City, Pro-Am, Rec, and MyCareer modes. However, some players noticed an apparent major change that was not mentioned in the official patch notes: the removal of the 92 and under Rec center.

Did Next-Gen Patch 1.3 Remove 92 and Under Rec Center Matchmaking from NBA 2k24?

The 92 and under Rec center was a feature that was unofficially introduced many years ago. It allowed players with MyPlayers rated 92 overall or lower to play against other players of similar ratings in Rec games allegedly from noon to 10pm EST. This feature was meant to provide a more balanced, and fair matchmaking system for players who did not want to face teams stacked with 99 overalls, which often resulted in frustrating and lopsided games.

However, after the update 1.3 patch, many players on reddit and twitter with 92 overall and below MyPlayers began to complain about being matched against teams stacked with 99 overalls, despite being within the alleged time window of 12am – 10pm for the 92 and under Rec center. Some players even posted screenshots and videos of their locker room lobbies showing players with ratings ranging from 70s to 99s in the same game.

We were able to confirm that despite being within the aforementioned time window, we noticed players under 92 were in the same locker room lobbies with 99 overalls. We tried to join several Rec games with different MyPlayers rated below 92, and each time we encountered players with ratings above 92, sometimes even as high as 99. We also checked the patch notes again, and found no official comment or explanation about this change.

Why Did 2K Sports Remove 92 and Under Rec Center Matchmaking from NBA 2k24?

Some players are theorizing that NBA 2K24 developers removed the 92 and under Rec center as another tactic to manipulate players into spending VC (virtual currency) to upgrade their characters, since it is well known that many players stop upgrading their characters at 92, so they can continue to be matched up with players at or below that rating. Others are hoping that this is just a temporary bug, or glitch that will be fixed soon.

Whatever the case may be, it seems that the 92 and under Rec center is no longer available in NBA 2K24 for next-gen consoles after the update 1.3 patch. This has caused a lot of frustration, and disappointment among players who enjoyed playing in a more balanced and competitive environment. We will keep you updated if there are any further developments, or official statements from NBA 2K24 developers regarding this issue.