A new arcade basketball game has been announced and it is officially licensed by the NBA and the NBPA. Developer Play by Play Studios will be bringing NBA THE RUN as its first developed game to the scene with 3v3 action that will summon the nostalgia for previous games. NBA THE RUN will be releasing for PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. The game will feature Cross Play to maximize online matchmaking. NBA THE RUN will bring current NBA stars along with fictional streetball legends. You can check out the official website here along with the announcement trailer below.
More About Play by Play Studios
According to the website, CEO and Founder Scott Probst spent 20 years in the game industry. Some former associates from Electronic Arts, along with Frost, formed Play by Play Studios in 2021. The goal would be fun sports games as there was no desire for complex menus, GM modes, roster management or opening packs. Probst doesn't even like the idea of seeing a broadcast presentation on a sports game. He wants to isolate away from the business element, completely.
“As fans of pretty much every basketball video game ever made, we have very big shoes to fill - and we don't take that lightly. Our partnership with the NBA & NBPA takes us to a whole new level and we're beyond excited about the collaboration and the potential of NBA THE RUN.“ Said Scott Probst, Founder & CEO of Play by Play Studios. “We’re a small team, but we’re scrappy, focused and relentless about creating an all new smash hit. This game is for every hoops fan across the globe.”
The goal for Play by Play Studios is to create sports games that simply don't exist today. Game that celebrate the spirit and culture of that specific sport. NBA THE RUN will be 3v3, which comes from the NBA Street franchise, which was built from NBA Jam, which was then built from Arch Rivals. The web page does show off some character art from those fictional players, seemingly. This studio does not wanting you grinding like its work after spending $70 for something that is supposed to be entertainment.
The goal would be fun sports games as there was no desire for complex menus, GM modes, roster management or opening packs.
What About the Actual Game?
A few details about NBA THE RUN have been announced. Players can opt to play Solo or Squads as players will face off against the best in the Knockout Tournaments. The goal is to become the GOAT of THE RUN. Gameplay will be fluid and fast and instantaneously responsive with no shot meter or weight transformations. The game is shown to offer a cel-shaded look, much like the player drawings used on Fox Sports programming.
Responsive gameplay allows to maximize the game's true rollback netcode system (huge for fighting games). This will ensure smooth online play that makes every special move or alley-oop more satisfying. Exotic locations include Venice Beach and The Tenement in Taguig Phillipines. All in-game assets are handcrafted with single hand-keyed animations to help show that this experience was truly curated.
“We’re always looking for new ways to bring fans closer to the game,” said Adrienne O’Keeffe, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships & Media, NBA. “NBA THE RUN provides fans with new ways to express their passion for basketball and we’re looking forward to working with the team at Play by Play to bring it to market.”
Play by Play Studios has officially announced the announcers for NBA THE RUN. All the action will be called by Bobbito Garcia -- legendary DJ, author and iconic video game voice. He adds high energy that goes on forever along with enthusiasm that will match the flow and action of the game. This will allow for an excellent atmosphere for each game played in the variety of destinations, no matter the players.
Play by Play Studios has also announced that there will be a Playtest at some point for NBA THE RUN. If you are interested, you can sign up at the website. NBA THE RUN can now be wishlisted, as well, on STEAM. The dev team is currently playtesting twice a week on PC as it is as important to them as the console experience. Lots of sports games are left out on PC and can be argued it keeps the console market move alive by doing so. The fact there will be no card opening meaning, at least, no pay-to-win in NBA THE RUN is pretty substantial. They want the out of the box experience to be perfect from the jump.