M
Michael Young
Guest
I grew up on arcade sports games that were simple, fun, and endlessly replayable — the kind you played with your friends for hours, laughing, competing, and discovering new ways to win. They weren’t about realism; they were about feel. That heartbeat of accessible, joyful sports gaming has guided me my entire career.
I spent 20 years working on some of the most influential sports games and franchises of all time. Now, with NBA The Run, I’ve come full circle — building the kind of game I’ve always wanted to play: fast, stylish, and social, made for both casual and hardcore players alike.
When Scott Probst (PBP Founder and CEO) and I first discussed the concept for this game, we talked about the idea of bringing players together through the love of sport – creating experiences that players will remember forever.
That conversation became the foundation of Play By Play Studios, and ultimately, NBA The Run.
Play Video
We drew inspiration from games that are easy to pick up, rewarding to master, and built around social play. Quick rounds, evolving strategies and creativity have been at the forefront of every game design discussion from the jump. We wanted to build a sports game that felt alive, inclusive, and endlessly replayable. Something that feels entirely new – a game with spirit, a game with soul.
NBA The Run takes players on a world tour of legendary outdoor courts in an evolving 3v3 experience that celebrates style, connection, and competition.
You’ll play with and against NBA stars and a roster of all-new Street Legends — fictional players with big personalities, wild skills, and stories to tell. Together, they form a living basketball universe that keeps growing over time.
Our mission was to design defense you can’t wait to play. In NBA The Run, defense brings a true rush — anticipation, timing, and impact. Massive blocks, lightning steals, shoves, dives — it’s all here. It’s aggressive, skill-based, and every bit as thrilling as offense.
And on offense? It’s nonstop highlights! Double alley-oops, posterizing dunks, off-the-backboard passes, step-back threes, and ankle-breaking combos flow seamlessly through hand-keyed animations and buttery-smooth controls. Every possession feels like a highlight reel.
Built on true rollback netcode, NBA The Run plays as smooth as it looks — low-latency, cross-platform, and always in sync. Every movement feels immediate and expressive, never sluggish or scripted.
Modern sports games often chase realism — how perfectly the sport looks or moves — but that can come at the expense of how it feels. We wanted to restore that sense of control and creativity, where you react on instinct, not animation timing. NBA The Run is built for that freedom — to let players flow, improvise, and make magic happen.
At the heart of NBA The Run are Knockout Tournaments — bracket-style events you can play solo (controlling your full team) or in squads (one player per teammate).
Rounds last 2 to 5 minutes, each featuring new Randomized Rules — from Dunkfest to Speed Round — keeping gameplay fresh, fast, and unpredictable – we’ve gotta keep you on your toes! Win and move on. Lose, and earn rewards to fuel your next run. It’s the perfect “one more round” game loop.
Basketball is a universal language, and NBA The Run is its passport. Each court bursts with music, culture, and energy — from the eclectic Venice Beach to the tight-knit Tenement. It’s a celebration of basketball’s global heartbeat, where everyone can step onto the court and feel at home.
Every animation is hand-keyed, every dunk, pass, and crossover brought to life with expressive detail. The art style bursts with attitude — bold outlines, exaggerated characters, and vibrant, stylized environments that make every moment pop. It’s not chasing photorealism; it’s chasing impact.
And the voice calling the action? None other than Bobbito Garcia, legendary DJ, author, and the iconic voice of one of the most revered streetball video game series of all-time — adding his endless energy, enthusiasm and original sazón to every call.
We absolutely love the arcade classics — they were our touchstones. But we didn’t want just another nostalgic remake. We wanted to build something new: an arcade-style basketball experience for today’s players.
At its heart, NBA The Run is about connection through competition — fast-to-fun gameplay and unforgettable moments.
This is basketball — reimagined for every hoops fan across the world. See you on the courts.
Continue reading...
I spent 20 years working on some of the most influential sports games and franchises of all time. Now, with NBA The Run, I’ve come full circle — building the kind of game I’ve always wanted to play: fast, stylish, and social, made for both casual and hardcore players alike.
When Scott Probst (PBP Founder and CEO) and I first discussed the concept for this game, we talked about the idea of bringing players together through the love of sport – creating experiences that players will remember forever.
That conversation became the foundation of Play By Play Studios, and ultimately, NBA The Run.
Play Video
We drew inspiration from games that are easy to pick up, rewarding to master, and built around social play. Quick rounds, evolving strategies and creativity have been at the forefront of every game design discussion from the jump. We wanted to build a sports game that felt alive, inclusive, and endlessly replayable. Something that feels entirely new – a game with spirit, a game with soul.
A new kind of street ball
NBA The Run takes players on a world tour of legendary outdoor courts in an evolving 3v3 experience that celebrates style, connection, and competition.
You’ll play with and against NBA stars and a roster of all-new Street Legends — fictional players with big personalities, wild skills, and stories to tell. Together, they form a living basketball universe that keeps growing over time.
Defense as fun as offense
Our mission was to design defense you can’t wait to play. In NBA The Run, defense brings a true rush — anticipation, timing, and impact. Massive blocks, lightning steals, shoves, dives — it’s all here. It’s aggressive, skill-based, and every bit as thrilling as offense.
And on offense? It’s nonstop highlights! Double alley-oops, posterizing dunks, off-the-backboard passes, step-back threes, and ankle-breaking combos flow seamlessly through hand-keyed animations and buttery-smooth controls. Every possession feels like a highlight reel.
Fluid, fast, and connected
Built on true rollback netcode, NBA The Run plays as smooth as it looks — low-latency, cross-platform, and always in sync. Every movement feels immediate and expressive, never sluggish or scripted.
Modern sports games often chase realism — how perfectly the sport looks or moves — but that can come at the expense of how it feels. We wanted to restore that sense of control and creativity, where you react on instinct, not animation timing. NBA The Run is built for that freedom — to let players flow, improvise, and make magic happen.
Knockout Tournaments: Play, win, repeat
At the heart of NBA The Run are Knockout Tournaments — bracket-style events you can play solo (controlling your full team) or in squads (one player per teammate).
Rounds last 2 to 5 minutes, each featuring new Randomized Rules — from Dunkfest to Speed Round — keeping gameplay fresh, fast, and unpredictable – we’ve gotta keep you on your toes! Win and move on. Lose, and earn rewards to fuel your next run. It’s the perfect “one more round” game loop.
Style, personality, and the global game
Basketball is a universal language, and NBA The Run is its passport. Each court bursts with music, culture, and energy — from the eclectic Venice Beach to the tight-knit Tenement. It’s a celebration of basketball’s global heartbeat, where everyone can step onto the court and feel at home.
Every animation is hand-keyed, every dunk, pass, and crossover brought to life with expressive detail. The art style bursts with attitude — bold outlines, exaggerated characters, and vibrant, stylized environments that make every moment pop. It’s not chasing photorealism; it’s chasing impact.
And the voice calling the action? None other than Bobbito Garcia, legendary DJ, author, and the iconic voice of one of the most revered streetball video game series of all-time — adding his endless energy, enthusiasm and original sazón to every call.
The next evolution
We absolutely love the arcade classics — they were our touchstones. But we didn’t want just another nostalgic remake. We wanted to build something new: an arcade-style basketball experience for today’s players.
At its heart, NBA The Run is about connection through competition — fast-to-fun gameplay and unforgettable moments.
This is basketball — reimagined for every hoops fan across the world. See you on the courts.
Continue reading...