Los Angeles — Play by Play Studios, a team of former EA Sports developers, has introduced NBA THE RUN, a three-on-three street basketball game slated for release in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The studio confirmed it has secured both NBA and NBPA licenses, allowing real-world stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg to appear alongside fictional athletes.
Designed for solo play or co-op, the title centers on Knockout Tournaments that can be tackled alone or with friends. Multiplayer matches employ rollback netcode—technology commonly used in fighting games—to reduce the impact of latency and maintain smooth online play. Full cross-play is planned across all supported platforms.
Veteran hip-hop personality Bobbito Garcia will serve as in-game announcer, narrating action set on handcrafted street courts that include Venice Beach and New York City’s famed Tenement court. According to the developer, gameplay emphasizes high-speed moves and flashy tricks, while its stylized visuals aim to separate NBA THE RUN from simulation-focused franchises like NBA 2K26.
The studio has not yet announced a specific launch date beyond the 2026 window.
Source: ESPN
