Next NBA The Run Closed Beta Scheduled For May 16 - Devs Discuss Upcoming Changes

Play by Play Studios has announced another NBA The Run playtest for Saturday, May 16 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM PST on Steam. After seeing a strong turnout during the previous session, the team said players wanted a weekend playtest and more time with the game, so they decided to move it to Saturday and extend the session by another hour. The studio also mentioned that it knows many players are waiting for a console playtest and says more information on that is coming later. The team has been paying close attention to feedback about animations, passing, balance and progression. One of the biggest changes being worked on right now is player movement. While the game originally leaned into a more stylized animation style with everything hand-keyed instead of motion captured, the team says it is now revising the core animations to make movement look and feel more natural and athletic. > NBA THE RUN street legend Spin Cycle is pulling up for the May 16 playtest to break ankles and prove his handles are some of the nastiest in the game. > > Spring Garden is his home court. > > Playtest Sign-Ups: https://t.co/iKPlWoEuFS. pic.twitter.com/mygnJD4h58 > > — NBA THE RUN (@NBATHERUN) May 7, 2026 Passing is also getting a lot of attention after feedback about floating passes and limited animation variety. The studio says it has already adjusted passing distances, transitions and responsiveness to help gameplay feel smoother overall. Several gameplay tuning changes are also on the way for the next playtest, including longer dunk distances, weaker half-court shooting, faster passing, more difficult cherry picking and tweaks to shove mechanics and balance. They also shared a little more about how progression will work. Instead of relying on packs and filler rewards, players will earn CRED while ranking up and then choose the gear and items they actually want. If you’re interested in a chance to be a play tester, make sure to sign up.