NBA THE RUN is getting ready to hit the court, and this weekend, players will finally get a chance to see how its 3v3 streetball action holds up across consoles and PC. Play by Play Studios, the NBA, and the NBPA have announced an open beta for NBA THE RUN, which will be playable on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10 AM PDT to 6 PM PDT / 1 PM EDT to 9 PM EDT.
The beta will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with cross-play fully enabled. There are also no sign-ups or codes required, so players will be able to download the beta on their preferred platform and start playing once it goes live.
I have been waiting for a game like this for a long time. I was a huge fan of NBA Street and NBA Street Vol. 2, and I played the heck out of both games back in the day. There have been plenty of basketball games over the years that have tried to capture the same magic that EA Sports Big had with those games, but for me, they never quite hit the same way.
With NBA THE RUN making the rounds for the past year or so, I have been holding out hope that this could be the game that finally brings that arcade-style streetball energy back. That is why I am looking forward to checking out the open beta this weekend and seeing if Play by Play Studios can deliver on that promise. Oh, and that soundtrack better be fire.
What Is Included In The NBA THE RUN Open Beta?
The open beta will include two game modes. Knockout Squads lets players control one player on a team of three, while Knockout Solos lets players control their full team of three. That should give players a chance to test both the team-focused and solo-control sides of NBA THE RUN.
The beta will also include a strong lineup of NBA stars, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Scottie Barnes, LaMelo Ball, Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Cooper Flagg, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, and Victor Wembanyama. Players will also get access to Destiny “DJ” Jackson, one of the game’s fictional Street Legends.
On the gameplay side, the test will include advanced dunks, taunts, and an early look at the game’s style moves. That includes crossovers, Shammgods, Slip ‘N Slides, and more. In other words, this is not trying to be a slow, sim-heavy basketball game. NBA THE RUN is leaning into flashy streetball, quick matches, and plenty of style.
There’s a look of fans of NBA Street out there. Let’s hoop that the servers don’t suffer a melt down.
NBA THE RUN Is Bringing Back Arcade-Style Streetball
At the center of NBA THE RUN is the Run the World Tournament, a four-round Knockout tournament where teams of three battle across iconic streetball courts from around the world. Each tournament ends with a championship game on one of four finals courts, where players compete for the Run the World trophy and bragging rights.
The game is also being powered by rollback netcode, which should help keep the online action feeling smooth and responsive. For a game built around quick crossovers, loose ball dives, dunks, alley-oops, and last-second plays, that is going to matter a lot.
NBA THE RUN launches on June 9, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
