A new arcade-style basketball game called NBA THE RUN is launching on June 9 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC via Steam.
The game is being developed by Play by Play Studios, an independent studio made up of developers who previously worked on several major gaming franchises.
NBA THE RUN focuses on fast-paced three-versus-three street basketball gameplay. Instead of traditional NBA simulation gameplay, the game is built around arcade action, online multiplayer, flashy moves, and quick matches on streetball courts around the world.
At the center of the game is the “Run the World Tournament,” a four-round knockout competition where teams compete across different courts before reaching championship finals courts for the ultimate trophy.
The game launches with three main modes.
- Knockout Squads lets players control one character while teaming up with friends or online players in three-player squads.
- Knockout Solos allows players to build and control their own full team of three players against other teams online.
- Knockout Friends is a private tournament mode where players can play solo against AI, team up with friends, or create private matches with up to 48 players.
Play by Play Studios says the game will launch with more than 30 NBA stars, along with five fictional streetball legends. Each character has unique playstyles and stylized designs.
The gameplay seems heavily inspired by classic arcade basketball games with fast movement, flashy dunks, alley-oops, loose-ball dives, and over-the-top streetball action. The studio also says the game uses rollback netcode for smoother online multiplayer performance.
Players who enjoyed games like NBA Street, NBA Jam, NBA Playgrounds, and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 may find NBA THE RUN especially interesting.
The game will be available in two editions.
The Standard Edition is priced at $29.99 and includes the base game.
The Deluxe Edition costs $39.99 and includes three additional playable rookie variants:
- Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors ’09 Rookie Variant
- Luka Dončić Dallas Mavericks ’18 Rookie Variant
- Kevin Durant Seattle Supersonics ’07 Rookie Variant
The Deluxe Edition also includes 1,000 CRED in-game currency.
