Xbox Elite Controllers grant advantage in NBA 2K25, cause crossplay issue

Remember the good old days when you just hit a button to shoot in a basketball game? NBA 2K is always tweaking its shooting mechanics to varying degrees of success. Rhythm shooting is the latest one to change everything.

Rhythm shooting asks players to time their shot with the player's actual in-game motion. The most common way is to use the analog stick, but you can remap your controller buttons to suit your own preference.

Players on Xbox are reporting much higher shooting percentages by mapping their rhythm shooting to the paddles or bumpers on their Elite Controllers. NBA 2K25 supports crossplay, but as of yet, there aren't any PlayStation peripherals that get this same advantage.

Because of the rampant use of zen controllers and other cheating methods, anybody who shoots a little too well often gets accused of cheating. Nothing about using an Xbox Elite Controller violates any of 2K's Terms of Service. This is an unintended bonus from using a $100 controller. After all, it is designed to give a markedly better gaming experience.

As YouTuber Heir Samurai reveals in his latest video, rhythm shooting has its roots in the shot aiming feature from NBA 2K21. I told you, this shooting saga has been going on for a while now.

NBA 2K25 is trying its best to please two different sets of customers. The casual player who gets in a game or two after work would like to just hit a button when their player is open and hit the shot. The diehard "ball is life" player wants there to be a skill gap that rewards the hours they've put into learning 2K25's ever-growing list of shooting mechanics.

And then we have to take into account cheaters, who simply want to win by any means necessary. It's a lot to balance, if not impossible.