The early access release of NBA 2K26 on August 29 has captured the attention of gamers and streamers alike. Within days, the game demonstrated a strong performance on livestreaming platforms, highlighting not only the franchise’s enduring popularity but also the growing influence of streaming communities in shaping gaming trends. Twitch viewership data indicates that NBA 2K26 quickly secured a spot in the top 10 most-watched games on the platform, signaling a promising launch trajectory.
NBA 2K26’s early access officially kicked off on August 29, and the game caught attention of multiple big creators as well as the likes of Kiyan Anthony, professional basketball player and son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony.
Developers leveraged livestreaming to attract maximum attention to the game, while streamers had the chance to grow their channel audiences. During NBA 2K26 broadcasts, viewers could claim Twitch Drops that included XP boosters for different game modes. All of this will come in handy for players as the first season kicks off.
In its first week of early access, NBA 2K26 streams racked up over 5.2 million Hours Watched on Twitch, earning the game the eighth spot on the platform’s charts. Twitch dominated NBA 2K26’s first week in total watch time, but Kick took the lead when it came to peak concurrent viewers. Much of that success goes to Adin Ross, one of Kick’s top streamers, who eagerly jumped into NBA 2K26 and streamed for hours. His broadcast peaked at 74.5K live viewers, while the overall peak for the category on Kick reached an impressive 99.8K concurrent viewers.
From a gameplay perspective, early reactions point to a well-received mix of realistic basketball mechanics and new features aimed at enhancing player immersion. Journalists note that while the core gameplay remains familiar to longtime fans, subtle innovations have helped sustain interest and encourage extended streaming sessions.
Reminder: NBA 2K26 is set for its official release on September 5. For schedules of other upcoming game releases, check out the dedicated Streams Charts page.
