Basketball video game fans who miss the over-the-top style of the NBA Street series might want to mark their calendars for June 9. That is when a new arcade basketball game called NBA The Run is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam.
The game comes from developer Play by Play Studios, and according to a Game Informer report from October 2025, development was overseen by Mike Young. He was an artist on the original NBA Street series, which gives the new title some old school credibility.
Instead of trying to be a realistic simulation like NBA 2K26, NBA The Run focuses on smaller 3v3 matches with slightly exaggerated action. Players fight through a four round Knockout Tournament on courts located around the world. At the end, they face a boss battle on one of four specially designed final courts.
There are three main ways to play. Knockout Squads lets you control one player on a three person team. Knockout Solos puts you in charge of the whole team. And Knockout Friends allows you to set up private custom tournaments. You can choose from fictional characters or pick a real NBA star. The roster includes over 30 real players like Steph Curry, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid.
The game originally started in 2024 under the name The Run: Got Next. Play by Play Studios later retooled it once they got the official NBA license. Sports games are as popular as ever, but the market for new arcade style sports games, especially those with official NBA and players’ association approval, has been pretty quiet. If everything goes smoothly, NBA The Run could help bring that style of game back.
The standard version will cost USD30 (~Php1,800). A Deluxe Edition which includes three extra unlockable players and some in-game currency, will run you USD40 (~Php2,500). Both versions come out on June 9, 2026.