PGA Tour 2K23 vs. 2K25

It has been two years since PGA Tour 2K23 launched in 2022. It came with many enhancements to the previous games’ foundational gameplay design, boasting new and improved features. The same is expected for the game’s next instalment: PGA Tour 2K25.

While the new PGA Tour 2K game has yet to launch, publishers 2K Sports have released enough information about its features, including improvements and additions. Here is a detailed comparison between PGA Tour 2K23 and 2K25.

What is PGA Tour 2K23?

PGA Tour 2K23 is the fifth instalment in the PGA Tour 2K golf simulation series. It launched in 2023 and enjoyed a mostly positive reputation thanks to its enhanced and new features. Notably, it was the first game in the series to feature professional golfers as playable characters. Moreover, it added more swag to the game. It also gave players better control over their swings, albeit not flawlessly. Overall, it was the best installment in the series until now.

What is PGA Tour 2K25?

PGA Tour 2K25 is the sixth instalment in the PGA Tour 2K series. However, it is worth noting that the game hasn’t launched yet. It is in the last phases of development and is scheduled to launch on February 28 this year.

This new instalment promises new, better, and bigger features than 2K23 and 2K21. “The development team at HB Studios delivered an innovative experience for casual and hardcore golf fans alike, featuring new archetypes, iconic major tournaments including the ‘Home of Golf’ with St. Andrews, and more. PGA Tour 2K25 will be one fans don’t want to miss,” says Dennis Ceccarelli, the senior vice president at 2K Games.

Story

The PGA Tour 2K series is a golf simulation. It is very hands-on and doesn’t have (or need) a background story. However, you can make your own story in PGA Tour 2K23 and 2K25 as you play and rise through the ranks of the world’s best golfers.

Characters

PGA Tour 2K23 was the first game in the series to introduce pro golfers as playable characters. It featured a total of 14 of the best golfers. Golf legend Tiger Woods was the game’s biggest highlight.

One of the biggest highlights of PGA Tour 2K25 is the introduction of new golf characters. The game will introduce 11 new pro golfers, with more to come with later updates. The most notable characters on the roster include Justin Thomas, Brooke Henderson, Collin Morikawa, Rose Zhang, and Lydia Ko. Moreover, players can create and customize their unique characters.

Mr. Woods is still the new game’s highlight, which is unsurprising considering his legendary reputation. He is on the cover alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa. He said the following in a press release, “Some of my most iconic moments, unforgettable hole outs, and dominant victories took place at the majors. In PGA Tour 2K25, players can step onto the tee box and create unforgettable moments as their customizable MyPLAYERS, fellow cover athletes Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa, or even me.”

Gameplay

As is the norm, the new PGA Tour 2K instalment will improve on the previous ones. It boasts new, improved, and better visuals for a more realistic, engaging experience.

Thanks to the new EvoSwing feature, playing golf in PGA Tour 2K25 feels more realistic. The new swing system makes handling the golf club easier and more realistic. It also adds greater accuracy and precision to the swings. It is easier to handle and more efficient than the traditional analogue Swing Stake and the 3-click swing system in PGA Tour 2K23. Other notable mechanics in 2K25 include new ball flights, shot types, and roll physics.

2K23 featured multiple licensed golf courses, including TPC Sawgrass and East Lake Golf Club. 2K25 expands on this selection with 29 new licensed world-class courses. They include Oakmont Country Club, Royal Portrush Golf Club, and Quail Hollow Club. Moreover, the game’s second season will bring more courses, including The Old Course at St. Andrews.

Besides these licensed courses, you can also create your custom courses using the new and improved Course Designer feature. It gives you more and better tools to work with than the Course Designer in PGA Tour 2K23. It offers a new higher-res terrain system, new surfaces, more objects, and handy tools like pencils, mowers, and rakes. You can fit your courses with trees, ponds, islands, and other features based on your unique designs. You can also publish and share your courses with other players.

PGA Tour 2K25 also features new leagues and competitions. You can play at the PGA Champions, The Open Championship, The U.S. Open Championship, and Major Championship for the first time. Unfortunately, 2K23 doesn’t feature professional leagues and competitions.

It is also worth noting that the new characters in 2K25 also come with an expanded MyPLAYER feature. It includes expanded Skill Trees, an expanded MyPLAYER Progression system, and an all-new Equipment Progression system. Additionally, the expanded MyCAREER system offers more ways to play, including pre-tournament events and an all-new training system.

2K23 and 2K25 feature multiplayer modes. The multiplayer modes in 2K23 include Scramble, Alt-Shot, Skins, and Stroke Play. 2K25 retains Scramble and Stroke Play modes and introduces a new Match Play multiplayer mode. You can also compete in daily Ranked Tours or weekly tournaments. Notably, the multiplayer mode in 2K25 also supports cross-platform play. Moreover, it supports local and online multiplayer modes, unlike 2K23.

Besides standard multiplayer formats, you can also create your online community of golfers and set your preferred entry requirements via the Online Societies feature. Both games have the Societies feature. However, it is more enhanced in 2K25.

This game supports PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. 2K23 supports more platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Verdict

The newest instalment in the PGA Tour 2K series is better than all other instalments, including 2K23. It boasts better physics and swinging mechanics for a more realistic experience. Moreover, it packs a few new features and improves many existing ones. You can pre-order the game to play it during early access. You can also get the 2K23 standard edition to play as you wait if you pre-order on Steam.