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Q&A: How ‘NBA The Run’ is evolving arcade basketball games

Play By Play Studios CEO Scott Probst explains what will make ‘NBA The Run’ unique when it launches June 9.

Jon Hartzell, NBA.com

The NBA is constantly evolving, and so are NBA video games.

The next evolution begins June 9 with the launch of NBA The Run, an arcade-style video game with fast-paced, 3v3 street basketball gameplay featuring 30+ NBA players, five rookie variants (like Stephen Curry in 2009 or Kevin Durant in 2007), and five street legends.

It’s the first video game from Play By Play Studios, created by CEO Scott Probst and Creative Director Mike Young, two Electronic Arts veterans who aim to bring back beloved elements from classic video games and merge them with modern gameplay modes.

NBA.com spoke with Probst to learn more about the game’s development, key features, and what players should expect when they pick up the sticks for the first time.

Editor’s Note: The following conversation has been condensed and edited.

NBA.com: It’s been a while since there was an arcade-style NBA video game. How does “NBA The Run” build on classic arcade basketball franchises?

Scott Probst: Yeah, it’s been several years at this point since the last NBA-licensed arcade game. There have been many classics before us, and we have big shoes to fill, so we don’t take that lightly, first and foremost. Whether it’s NBA Street, Jam, or Playgrounds, so many fantastic games have been made over the decades.

For us, we approached this knowing we had those big shoes to fill, but also that we had to bring something new and exciting for a modern audience. We didn’t want to just recreate what had been done before. We wanted to build something from the ground up that feels modern, while learning from all the classics that came before us.

You’ll definitely be able to pick up and play this game and feel the inspiration of those classic series, but you’ll also notice it’s built for a modern gamer with its PvP and online focus, tournament structure, and randomized rule sets. That brings a whole different way to play.

What feelings are you most excited for gamers to discover (or rediscover) when they play their first session?

It’s a couple of things. First, it’s the ability to jump in, like grabbing a ball and heading to a hoop, and immediately have a blast.

Video games can get complex quickly, so for us it’s about “easy to learn, fun to master.” You should be able to jump in and within minutes be slam dunking, hitting step-backs, logo 3s, and trick moves.

As you play more, you’ll see advanced moves, combinations and variations. But we didn’t want to hide the fun behind mastery. We want you to have fun immediately, while depth reveals itself over time.

The other major piece is the core loop: knockout tournaments combined with randomized rule sets. That creates a unique experience we haven’t seen much in sports games. We’ve taken inspiration from battle royale-style games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite and Fall Guys. Those knockout experiences where tension builds round by round.

So you’re chasing the final, then we layer in randomized rules, like Triple Threat where 3s are worth more, Dunk Fest where dunks dominate, or more unconventional modes like Zone Breaker. You never know what you’re going to get.

That creates strategy in who you bring into a match. Someone like Steph is incredible in a 3-point-focused rule set, but might struggle against elite dunkers in Dunk Fest.

It leads to what we call “get out of your seat” moments. Players are yelling, reacting, getting emotional. We want that energy to be the core of the experience.

How does that design translate into the speed and pacing of each game?

Each round is around 2 to 4 minutes. You can jump in, play a round and be out quickly.

That adds tension because there’s a time pressure. You have to hit a score within a limited window, which raises the intensity and creates those high-energy moments.

It also means the investment is manageable. If you lose in the semifinals, you didn’t spend hours getting there. You spent maybe 12-15 minutes. So it’s easy to jump right back in.

We want players to always feel “one more run.” We see that all the time in playtests. Even when it’s time to stop, people want to keep going. When you win, it feels great. When you lose, it’s easy to jump right back in and try again.

You mentioned the goal to make the game “easy to play but fun to master.” What does that journey look like – from someone’s first game to winning a global online tournament?

We’ve designed this as a very character-driven game. Every player feels and plays differently. Whether it’s Steph, Giannis or Wemby, each one moves, shoots and behaves in unique ways.

There’s strategy in who you bring onto the court and how you use them. Right away, you can move, shoot, dunk, steal and have success. But as players spend more time with the game, they start chaining moves together and developing more advanced strategies.

Nothing is gated behind gameplay unlocks. All unlocks are cosmetic things (dunks, outfits, animations) that personalize your experience but don’t make you more powerful. Progression is about customization and style, not competitive advantage or paying to win.

What develops is player skill and strategy for team compositions, playstyles, and coordination. The mix of players you bring matters a lot.

In early playtests, experienced players started strong, but new players quickly learned by watching and adapting. Skill growth happens naturally.

Our goal is immediate fun, but also long-term depth. The more you play, the more you understand how deep the systems are, and that’s what keeps players engaged.

What are the core game modes?

The three main game modes are Knockout Squads, Knockout Solos and Knockout Friends. Everything is built around the knockout tournament structure to maintain that sense of tension.

Knockout Squads is focused on team-based play. You and your friends can form a group (each player controls one character) and compete against other players. You can play with three players, or even just two, with the third slot filled by AI or matchmaking. Typically, it’s six human players competing 3v3.

Knockout Solos is more of a throwback mode. You control your entire team of three players and go head-to-head against another player doing the same. It’s still six players on the court, but each person controls all three on their side. That changes the strategy significantly. Ball movement, positioning, and decision-making all feel very different.

Knockout Friends allows you to play against AI or create custom matches. You can play solo, with a small group, or scale up into private tournaments with up to 48 players. It’s flexible. You can treat it like a casual offline-style mode or organize large multiplayer sessions with friends.

One classic feature gamers will hear immediately is Bobbito Garcia, the legendary DJ and voice from “NBA Street.” What does his voice bring to the feel of the game?

It’s in the question. He’s legendary. You can’t overstate it. Bob is one of one. From his early days on Stretch and Bobbito to now, he’s an iconic voice in music and basketball culture.

He’s also become a close friend during development, and the level of care and passion he’s brought to the game is incredible. We have over 50 hours of recorded audio from him.

You can’t recreate his presence. He brings the style, the flair, the energy — the “hot sauce” of the game.

For longtime fans, there’s immediate nostalgia when you hear his voice. But it’s also a new version of him. It’s been over 20 years, so there’s growth there.

For new players, he’s instantly engaging. His personality adds a unique flavor you don’t get anywhere else. He recorded over 3,000 lines, which is amazing and brings so much life to the game.

Each NBA star in the game has a unique way of playing. How were those intricacies worked into the game so it’s clear to a casual fan?

We’ve approached this in a few ways for all basketball fans.

First, the art style. We wanted a unique, timeless look, something that doesn’t feel niche or tied to a specific era. Even if you’re not deeply familiar with the NBA, you can pick players based on visual appeal alone. During development, we’ve seen that some people choose characters simply because they like how they look.

Second, the stats system is designed to be easy to understand. Instead of overwhelming players with dozens of ratings, we use simplified visual bars. You can quickly see strengths and weaknesses at a glance.

Even though all NBA players are elite, we exaggerate strengths and create weaknesses for gameplay balance. Steph is an incredible shooter, but not as strong defensively in our game. That differentiation is important so players don’t all feel the same.

We also added a “crown” mechanic for elite categories. For example, Steph’s 3-point shooting isn’t just maxed. It’s marked as a standout strength with a crown. That makes it easy to identify top-tier abilities instantly.

Finally, there’s a shootaround mode where you can test players freely. It’s a simple way to learn how each one feels.

Ultimately, it’s a mix of visual appeal, intuitive stats, and hands-on experience. Over time, players find the combinations and styles they enjoy most.

The game features 11 total courts across the world, from Venice Beach to the Philippines. What was the process for selecting these legendary courts?

For us, authenticity was really important. Even though this isn’t a simulation game, we wanted it to feel grounded in the real world of basketball culture.

Games like NBA Street Vol. 2 struck that balance perfectly. They were over-the-top and arcade-style, but still authentic. That was a big influence.

We didn’t want fictional locations like Mars or purely imagined courts. We wanted real-world locations that players could recognize. There’s something special about seeing a court and thinking, “I know that place.”

It adds a sense of realism and connection. You’re not recreating reality exactly, but you’re placing these larger-than-life players into real environments, which creates that “what if” feeling. Like, what if NBA stars were actually playing pickup at Venice Beach?

That grounding in real locations helps the game feel authentic, even within an exaggerated arcade experience.

What’s your current go-to squad, go-to player, and favorite court to play on?

That’s a tough one. My go-to player is Steph. I’m a die-hard Warriors fan, so I’m running Steph pretty much 99% of the time. I gravitate toward shooters, so I’ve also been playing with Dame more lately, but Steph is always my main.

For courts, I’d go with the Venice Beach tournament court. The team did an amazing job. It’s set around sunset and just has a great mood and vibe. I used to live in L.A. and walk by that court all the time, so it really hits for me.

As for my squad, I usually run Steph, Wemby and SGA. Sometimes I’ll swap SGA out, but that’s my core group.

One of the coolest things about the game is being able to put these superstars together on the same team. Guys who are competing against each other in real life can be paired up however you want. Running someone like Steph with Wemby or SGA is pretty mind-blowing, and it’s one of those features that really makes the game special.

NBA The Run launches June 9 for $29.99 – the Deluxe Edition is $39.99 with extra rookie variants and in-game bonuses – on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam) with cross-play enabled. You can add the game to your wishlist and find full details here.

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