Backyard Sports Makes Its Legendary Return to the World of Video Game Entertainment
The relaunch is helmed by Playground Productions – a new, first-in-class production company, committed to film, television, digital media and video games for children and families.
Chicago, IL, August 20, 2024 – Today,Playground Productions, a pioneering production company dedicated to creating best-in-class content for children and families, is thrilled to announce the return of the iconic video game franchise, Backyard Sports. With this nostalgic re-release, Playground Productions is bringing the popular games back to reach new and existing fans, making them bigger and better than ever while staying true to what made the franchise so special.
Slated to return in the coming months, this marks the beginning of Playground Productions’ broader vision to relaunch Backyard Sports across multiple verticals, including video games, merchandise, film, television and more.
Beloved by millions, Backyard Sports was a popular family-friendly computer game that became a staple of life for kids everywhere. With baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey, the games were loved by a generation as they featured a stable of neighborhood athletes that reflected a real-life playground of boys and girls. Siblings and friends vied for the coveted seat at the family computer to play as their favorite characters, with none more popular than Pablo Sanchez. Backyard Sports allowed kids to be kids and celebrated the imagination of children.
“Backyard Sports is more than just a game; it’s a cherished part of childhood for millions of people,” said Lindsay Barnett, Founder and CEO of Playground Productions. “I look at media as the largest classroom in the world. As such, our goal is to produce meaningful content that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. The return of Backyard Sports is the perfect embodiment of that goal.”
Founded in 2022 by Lindsay Barnett, a lifelong Backyard Sports fan and a former second-grade teacher with nearly a decade of experience in the Chicago Public School system, Playground Productions is committed to creating content that celebrates the spirit of play and meets children where they are developmentally. The company leverages cutting-edge technology and esteemed character IP to craft stories and experiences that resonate with today’s kids while honoring the nostalgia of their parents and uniting generations. “We’re excited to embark on this next chapter of Backyard Sports led by Playground Productions,” stated producers Ari Pinchot and Stuart Avi Savitsky in a joint statement.
“We’re incredibly excited to reintroduce Backyard Sports to a new generation of players,” said Chris Waters, Chief Product Officer at Playground Productions. “We’re 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 audience expects. I can’t wait for fans to see what we’re building on the Playground.”
The relaunch of Backyard Sports is the first of many exciting projects from Playground Productions. For more information about the launch and to stay updated on future developments, please visit www.backyardsports.com as well as www.playground-productions.com.
