Grab your bat! Backyard Baseball '97 heads to consoles

Backyard Baseball '97 is heading to the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 5 on June 12th following it success on Steam, Android, and iOS. Remastering Backyard Baseball was quite the undertaking, as the team unfortunately did not have the source code from the original game. Still, through determination and reverse engineering, Mega Cat Studios along with a team of passionate fans were able to make the game available for modern consoles.

CHICAGO, June 12^th, 2025 – Children’s and family entertainment company Playground Productions today announced the long-awaited console debut of “Backyard Baseball ’97.” The widely beloved video game that teed up a generation of kid-powered sports entertainment will be available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 beginning June 12^th. 

Following recent chart-topping success across Steam, Android and iOS devices—where the game hit #1 across multiple categories and was named an Apple editorial pick—the console release continues Playground Productions’ mission to preserve and celebrate the nostalgic fun of the original Backyard Sports titles. The June launch marks a major milestone as Backyard Baseball ’97 is brought to console for the first time. 

“Whether you grew up playing on a family desktop or are just discovering the magic for the first time, this game’s pick-up-and-play charm, funny characters, and nostalgic art style remain unrivaled,” said Lindsay Barnett, CEO of Playground Productions, which owns Backyard Sports, in announcing the launch. “It's an incredible retro game that celebrates the joy of play, and we’re proud to bring it to kids and families everywhere – in the living room or on the go.”

To celebrate Backyard Baseball 97's console debut, publisher Playground Productions and Mega Cat Studios have released a new trailer, offering a front-row seat to the nostalgic action.

Remastering the original Backyard Baseball game to modern devices was no walk in the ballpark, as the team did not have the source code from the original game. Developer Mega Cat Studios, alongside a dedicated team of passionate fans, made the impossible possible earlier this year – unlocking the game through reverse engineering of the source code for modern console play. 

“For 28 years, this game has held a singular place in sports and game-lovers’ hearts,” said James Deighan, Founder and CEO, Mega Cat Studios. “To be able to bring this game back to life for the modern gamer, to expand the base of those who enjoy playing it, and to have those two audiences play together is a privilege and a pleasure for all of us. We’re excited to bring this to continually new audiences.”

In addition to Backyard Baseball ’97, Playground Productions will launch Backyard Baseball ‘01 this summer on Steam and mobile devices, with launch date and further specifics to follow. 

Playground also announced that they will also be bringing back the classic “Backyard Football ‘99” this fall to Steam and mobile devices with an all-star lineup of NFL legends including Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, Dan Marino, Steve Young, John Elway, Randall Cunningham, and Drew Bledsoe — with the characters reimagined as kids and ready to play ball. This fan-favorite classic blends over-the-top arcade action with nostalgic charm, delivering pick-up-and-play fun for a new generation.

For more information on the launch and Backyard Sports, visit Playground-Productions.com or follow @playground.productions. 

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