NBA Playgrounds Game

Review: NBA Playgrounds is a basketball video game for Microsoft Windows Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 and Xbox One that was released on May 9 2017.1 Developed by Saber Interactive and officially licensed by the National Basketball Association the game is set up as an arcade-style basketball game akin to prior games such as the NBA Jam and NBA Street series.

Players fill up their roster of players by playing different modes to earn packs. Tournament mode is a mode where they play four games with challenges on each court. Once the tournament is completed they unlock the court and a gold pack. There is online mode and exhibition where players can play to upgrade the players from bronze to silver and gold. Players also get a pack for leveling up their offline level and their online level.

NBA Playgrounds includes a roster of both active and former NBA stars; both local and online multiplayer modes are included in the game. The game has a digital-only distribution.

The online feature was not ready at launch day for the Nintendo Switch version due to technical issues but the developer initially promised it would be ready in a few days.2 Despite that two weeks have passed before the developer was questioned on Twitter about the online status of the Nintendo Switch version without getting a definitive answer.3 However the developer later told Nintendo Switch players to expect a “huge announcement” on June 1.4 Ultimately the developer announced anyone who purchases NBA Playgrounds on the Nintendo Switch prior to implementing the online feature will receive a complimentary copy of the upcoming beat ’em up title Shaq Fu A Legend Reborn as compensation for their continued patience re-iterating the online feature is coming soon.