The NBA has been expanding beyond just launching NBA 2K every year. NetEase’s mobile basketball title, Dunk City Dynasty, offers players a 3v3 street ball experience in the palm of their hand. And now, Play by Play Studios and the NBA and the NBPA have announced NBA The Run, a fast-paced 3v3 street basketball game available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam—with crossplay enabled, of course.
Play by Play Studios came onto the scene in 2024 with the announcement of The Run: Got Next, which was slated to release on Steam this year. Looking at the original Steam page for what was set to be the debut title for the studio, it’s clear that NBA The Run, slated for a 2026 release, is building off of that initial announcement. And that’s exciting.
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“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, in a release to press.
“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 launch of NetEase’s Dunk City Dynasty, the massive success of Sloclap’s Rematch, and the announcement that Korea’s JoyCity will bring Freestyle Football 2 to the US in 2026 are tapping into the love of sports games and offering players a depth of arcade options. And now we have another, which is a great thing.
“We’re always looking for new ways to bring fans closer to the game,” said Adrienne O’Keeffe, Senior Vice President, NBA’s Global Partnerships & Media, in the same release. “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.”
What is NBA The Run?
In NBA The Run, players can hop into a match as some of their favorite current NBA stars or fictional streetball legends, going to legendary streetball courts spanning the globe, including Rucker Park, Venice Beach, and The Tenement in Taguig, Philippines.
Play By Play Studios highlights that every detail, player, court, and hand-keyed animation is handcrafted, giving the game a unique style, which you can see in the announcement teaser trailer below.
As for how players can hop onto the court, NBA The Run will have options to play solo or in squads, with both modes putting players into Knockout Tournaments, like any good arcade title, gameplay promises to be “fast, fluid, and perfectly responsive” with the studio even highlighting their use of a true rollback netcode system, ensuring smooth online play.
The last part of Play By Play Studios’ announcement is that DJ, author, and iconic video game voice, Bobbito Garcia, will be calling every game. Yes, NBA Street fans, Bobbito is making his way back onto the court. The last time he lent his voice to a basketball title was NBA 2K9, calling the Dunk Contest, and that announcement alone highlights how seriously the studio is picking up the streetball baton.
Watch the Trailer
What NBA All-Stars will be playable in NBA The Run?
The first NBA All-Stars joining the title are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lamelo Ball, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, and Cooper Flagg, as showcased in the teaser trailer. And this is where my Spurs flag will fly, proclaiming that Victor Wembanyama (Wemby to his fans) was built to be animated in a streetball arcade game.
What is the release date for Play By Play Studios’ title?
With its teaser trailer, the studio did not share a specific release date. However, they did announce a release window. NBA The Run will be available in 2026 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on PC.
