It's Time to Run: NBA THE RUN Drops Today Just as the NBA Finals Heat Up
Grab your squad. Play by Play Studios’ brand new 3v3 arcade basketball brawler is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The temperature on the real-world hardwood is reaching a boiling point with the NBA Finals in full swing, but if you’re looking to take that competitive energy straight to the blacktop, you’re in luck. Play by Play Studios, in partnership with the NBA and NBPA, has officially dropped NBA THE RUN today.
Available digitally for $29.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, NBA THE RUN is a fast-paced, 3v3 streetball game designed to evoke the golden age of arcade sports titles. Featuring a roster of over 30 current NBA stars alongside five unique, fictional streetball legends, the game promises posturizing dunks, ankle-breaking tricks, and aggressive, all-out defense.
Even better? It features full cross-play and true rollback netcode right out of the gate, ensuring every loose ball dive, crossover, and alley-oop syncs up flawlessly online.
At the core of NBA THE RUN is the Run the World Tournament. This four-round Knockout tourney pits teams of three against each other on iconic, handcrafted global streetball courts—from the sun-drenched concrete of Venice Beach to the gritty confines of The Tenement in the Philippines.
To keep things fresh, every round introduces a randomized ruleset, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. Survive the gauntlet, and you’ll find yourself in a championship game on one of four exclusive finals courts fighting for the Run the World trophy and ultimate bragging rights.
Whether you want to team up with friends or take on the world solo, NBA THE RUN is launching with a variety of modes to suit your playstyle:
Knockout Squads: Play on a Squad of 3. You control one player on the Squad, fill out your team with friends or matchmade players, and take on the global competition.
Knockout Solos: Build your very own dream Team of 3. You control the whole squad and go head-to-head against other solo players and their custom trios.
Knockout Friends: Your own private tournament. Play alone against the AI, crew up with friends against the CPU, or set up massive private brackets with up to 48 players at launch.
Shootaround: A stress-free practice court where you can bring different ballers in to master their unique moves and dial in your shot timing.
For the ultimate hoop heads, Play by Play Studios is also offering a Deluxe Edition for $39.99. This premium version includes 1000 CRED (the earnable in-game currency used for alternate jerseys, taunts, banners, and dunk animations) alongside three highly coveted Rookie Variants:
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors ‘09)
Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks ‘18)
Kevin Durant (Seattle Supersonics ‘07)
NBA THE RUN is the debut title from Play by Play Studios, an independent team of veteran developers who have worked on some of the industry’s biggest franchises. With a promised roadmap of post-launch content updates—including new players, courts, rulesets, and game modes—it looks like the streetball season is just getting started.
NBA THE RUN is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.