Backyard Baseball returns with first new game in nearly 30 years

Following renewed attention sparked by a new animated special, Backyard Baseball has officially confirmed its return with a brand-new game coming in 2026.

For the uninitiated, Backyard Baseball originally launched in 1997 and quickly became one of the most recognizable kids’ sports games of its era. It stood out from the EA’s yearly Triple Play Baseball by focusing on personality and accessibility rather than realism.

After years out of the spotlight, the franchise found new life when Playground Productions acquired the IP and re-released classic Backyard Sports titles on Steam and mobile. Those releases were well received, with Backyard Baseball 97 earning more than 1,900 positive reviews on Steam, a clear signal that interest in the series had not faded.

Backyard Baseball revival confirms first new game in decades

The 11-minute animated special ended with a reveal that fans had waited nearly 30 years to see. Playground Productions confirmed that a brand-new Backyard Baseball game is in development and scheduled to release in summer 2026.

Unlike the last decade’s re-releases, this will not be a remaster or collection. Instead, it’s a completely new entry and the first original Backyard Baseball game since the late 1990s.

While no gameplay footage was shown, the special sketched out several clues about the direction of the project. The art style appears to stick with the classic 2D presentation that defined the original games, rather than the later 3D entry released in 2005.

The special referenced familiar locations such as Eckman Acres and Steele Stadium, which point to a return of iconic settings alongside the core cast. That said, a full roster has not been confirmed, and platforms have yet to be announced.