Boot up Windows 98 or that iMac G3 because "Backyard Sports" is coming back.
The iconic video game series will make its return "in the coming months" with the same aesthetic of the games released in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Playground Productions announced Tuesday, in conjunction with a trailer.
Playground Productions is a children and family entertainment company founded by former elementary school teacher Lindsay Barnett,
The company's chief product officer, Chris Waters, issued the following statement about the return of "Backyard Sports:"
"We're incredibly excited to reintroduce 'Backyard Sports' to a new generation of players. We're taking great care to preserve the look and feel that made the original games so special while updating them with modern features and gameplay that today's audience expects. I can't wait for fans to see what we're building on the Playground."
Bobby Witt Jr x Pablo Sanchez ???? pic.twitter.com/wAX36gxGlt
— Hustle Sports Group (@hustlesportsgrp) August 17, 2024
The franchise began in 1997 with "Backyard Baseball", before adding football, basketball, hockey, soccer and skateboarding to the mix.
"Backyard Baseball" remains the company's most popular game to date, with nostalgia from the game still making its presence known in the majors, as Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. used a Pablo Sanchez bat during Player's Weekend.
There have been a total of 38 games launched under the "Backyard Sports" umbrella, and none since 2015 when a game was released for Android and iOS.
Originally, "Backyard Sports" was strictly intended for computer use. It is yet to be seen how fans will be able to engage with the future games.
Amid rumors of the game’s return, a sealed copy of "Backyard Baseball," graded Wata 9.0 A+, sold for $249.99 on eBay. Earlier in the month, another copy, graded Wata 9.8 A++, sold for $400, also via eBay.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.