NBA 2K17 fanatics have a new incentive to exercise on a regular basis, as their use of Fitbit activity trackers will soon unlock in-game bonuses and boosted character stats for the latest entry in the popular basketball simulation series.
Publisher 2K’s newly announced partnership with the makers of the Fitbit wearable activity tracker allows players to redeem their tracked steps in-game, and regular workouts will produce a powered-up team that’s ready for the NBA Finals.
Billed as “a first-of-its-kind integration,” NBA 2K17‘s upcoming Fitbit support is aimed at players who take 10,000 Fitbit-tracked steps on a daily basis. Players who meet the requirement can redeem their steps for a temporary MyPlayer avatar skill boost, earning them bonuses in agility, layups, dunks, and other stats.
Boosted characters will retain their stats across their next five simulated games, and players can earn additional Fitbit bonuses every 24 hours. Players who maintain a daily workout schedule can effectively play with a powered-up character throughout the entirety of a simulated NBA season.
“Any athlete will tell you that a healthy lifestyle is a major key to success, and by rewarding gamers for healthy lifestyle habits we hope to help motivate them to achieve their goals in life and in-game,” said Alfie Brody, 2K Sports’ vice president of marketing. “Our brand is synonymous with breaking down boundaries of what a game can achieve, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition through this Fitbit integration.”
“It’s exciting to see Fitbit and 2K working together to reward gamers like me in a unique way,” Dallas Mavericks player Harrison Barnes adds. “It’s an extra incentive to get my target steps per day because not only am I getting a physical edge, but a gaming edge, too, in NBA 2K17. Now my friends and family will have to step up their game to keep up with me.”
The PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC versions of NBA 2K17 will introduce Fitbit support as part of a free update launching worldwide on November 25.
