PPA Pickleball Pro Tour video game is the next logical step for a rising sport
By Brian Allen
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world right now. Pro athletes including Patrick Mahomes and Trey Young have become owners of pickleball franchises. More than 13 million players picked up the paddles in 2023, according to USA Pickleball. It was only a matter of time before the Pro Pickleball Association signed off on its own game to capitalize on the excitement. Luckily for them, there is a developer who already has experience in spaces like this.
PPA Pickleball Pro Tour comes from Farsight Studios, a developer perhaps best known for recreations of classic pinball machines. In recent years, they have carved out a niche doing games for sports that other companies have neglected. Other games in their stable include ACL Pro Cornhole and PBA Pro Bowling 2023. FarSight CEO Bobby King told Sports Business Journal Pro Bowling 2023 generated more than $5 million in revenue, and he believes a pro pickleball game has similar potential.
The game contains 16 PPA pros including Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters, with FarSight planning to add more. The athletes are rated on five different categories: athleticism, power, accuracy, hand speed, and dink consistency. A dink is a soft shot designed to be hard for the opponent to return.
In the career mode, players can create their own future pickleball legend or use one of the real-life pros to battle against the best in the world. All the game's modes include single or doubles play with either friends or AI partners.
In terms of pricing, Pickleball Pro Tour launches at $49.99. Since tennis is the sport pickleball has the most in common with, FarSight wanted a price point similar to games such as 2K's Top Spin franchise. Will this interpretation of pickleball strike a chord with players? The results will be interesting to see. PPA Pickleball Pro Tour is available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.