The new arcade sports title NBA THE RUN officially arrives in June 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. The game is developed by Play by Play Studios in collaboration with the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association.
The focus of the game is on fast 3-on-3 streetball gameplay, emphasizing flashy moves like dunks, crossovers, and defensive blocks. The game brings an arcade approach to basketball, inspired by the "golden age" of sports games, but tailored for a modern online experience.
The central mode is Run the World Tournament, a tournament format that guides players through four rounds of elimination on famous streetball courts around the world. Each tournament concludes with a final match at one of the special locations, where players compete for the title and prestige.
At launch, three main modes will be available:
Knockout Squads – 3v3 team multiplayer where each player controls one team member
Knockout Solos – managing an entire team of three players
Knockout Friends – private tournaments with friends or against AI (up to 48 players)
The game will feature over 30 real NBA stars along with five additional fictional streetball legends, each with their own playing style. The gameplay is fast and responsive, and the online experience is powered by rollback netcode that ensures real-time move synchronization.
Interested players can already sign up for the closed beta test, which will take place on May 1st via Steam.
NBA THE RUN marks the first project of Play by Play Studios, composed of developers with experience working on major sports franchises, aiming to offer a fresh and dynamic basketball experience for a new generation of players.
