Video game series “Backyard Sports” officially returns – NBC Los Angeles

Video game series “Backyard Sports” officially returns – NBC Los Angeles

Backyard Sports is finally back.

Playground Productions, a children’s and family entertainment company, announced on Tuesday the official relaunch of the popular sports video game franchise.

The company has released a trailer featuring Pablo Sanchez, Pete Wheeler, Kiesha Phillips and other characters from the original Backyard Sports series.

Playground Productions said the video game series will return “in the coming months.” Not only will the franchise return with a video game series, but the company also plans to launch “Backyard Sports” merchandise, movies and television shows.

“We are incredibly excited to introduce Backyard Sports to a new generation of gamers,” said Chris Waters, chief product officer at Playground Productions, in a statement to Sports Illustrated. “We are 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 audiences expect. I can’t wait to show fans what we’re building at Playground.”

Humongous Entertainment created Backyard Sports in 1997 and the series has been licensed by major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA and MLB to put some of the world’s best athletes alongside the Backyard Kids. A total of 38 Backyard Sports games have been released, the most recent of which was a mobile app version in 2015.

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce helped bring “Backyard Sports” back into the mainstream earlier this year when he expressed his desire to acquire the rights to the franchise.

“I don’t even know if I want to mention it. I’ve been secretly looking to see if anyone owns the rights to ‘Backyard Baseball’ and ‘Backyard Football’ because I want to buy them and get this thing going again,” Kelce said on an episode of the podcast “New Heights” with his brother Travis Kelce.

Kelce is not directly involved in the rebooted franchise, but Playground Productions says he represents an enthusiastic fan base.

“While Jason Kelce is not directly involved in this relaunch, he represents an audience that to this day fondly remembers ‘Backyard Sports’ as a staple game with iconic characters that is beloved by many,” a Playground Productions spokesperson told Sports Illustrated. “Just like Jason and the millions of other fans out there, Playground Productions recognizes the nostalgia of this franchise and is excited to bring it back to life to reach a new generation of gamers.”

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