Backyard Baseball Revived by Chicago Teacher After Decades in Limbo

The classic 90s-2000s PC game series is making a comeback with a modern reboot after a teacher's quest to bring it back to classrooms.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:26am

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An abstract, minimalist composition of bold, jagged geometric shapes in red and white, conceptually representing the Backyard Baseball franchise and its revival.The revival of the beloved Backyard Baseball franchise brings back the joy and nostalgia of classic PC gaming for a new generation.Chicago Today

After the Backyard Sports game series fell into licensing limbo following corporate mergers and buyouts, a Chicago-area second grade teacher named Lindsay Barnett embarked on a mission to track down the rights holders and revive the beloved Backyard Baseball franchise. Barnett formed Playground Productions and partnered with Mega Cat Studios to remaster the original games and eventually create a brand new Backyard Baseball title, which is generating significant excitement from both longtime fans and new players at PAX East 2026.

Why it matters

The Backyard Sports games, especially Backyard Baseball, hold a special place in the hearts of many millennials and Gen Z gamers who grew up playing them. By bringing the franchise back, Playground Productions is tapping into powerful nostalgia while also introducing the series to a new generation of players. The reboot's focus on accessibility and educational value aligns with the original games' appeal as fun, family-friendly sports titles.

The details

After months of tracking down the current rights holders, Lindsay Barnett obtained the Backyard Sports license and formed Playground Productions to begin porting the original games to modern platforms like Steam. Working with Mega Cat Studios, they were able to reverse engineer the old games and add new features like achievements and leaderboards. The remastered Backyard Baseball '97 launched in 2024 to critical acclaim, leading Playground Productions to port over other titles in the series as well. Inspired by the outpouring of fan nostalgia, the team then set out to create an all-new Backyard Baseball game, which they revealed at the end of a Backyard Sports animated special. The new game will feature 3D models while retaining the classic art style, and will introduce new gameplay elements and accessibility features.

  • Lindsay Barnett obtained the Backyard Sports license in early 2023 after months of searching for the rights holders.
  • The remastered Backyard Baseball '97 launched on Steam in 2024.
  • Playground Productions ported over Backyard Soccer, Basketball, Football, and Hockey in 2025.
  • The new Backyard Baseball game was revealed at the end of a Backyard Sports animated special in late 2025.
  • Backyard Baseball is set to release on July 9, 2026 for Steam, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

The players

Lindsay Barnett

A Chicago-area second grade teacher who embarked on a mission to track down the rights holders and revive the Backyard Sports franchise, ultimately forming Playground Productions to bring the games back.

Playground Productions

A children's educational multi-media entertainment company founded by Lindsay Barnett to remaster and revive the Backyard Sports games.

Mega Cat Studios

The development partner that worked with Playground Productions to reverse engineer the original Backyard Sports games and add new features for the remastered releases.

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What they’re saying

“This outpouring from the fans is what led to the creation of the new Backyard Baseball.”

— Matthew Berk, Head of Marketing, Playground Productions

What’s next

Backyard Baseball is set to release on July 9, 2026 for Steam, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

The takeaway

The revival of the beloved Backyard Baseball franchise, spearheaded by a determined Chicago teacher, demonstrates the enduring appeal of classic PC games and the power of fan nostalgia. By preserving the series' charm while modernizing the experience, Playground Productions is poised to introduce the joys of Backyard Baseball to a new generation of players.