Backyard Sports returns on mobile platforms — and now works with real basketball hoops and more

Sports just got its take on Skylanders.

Backyard Sports, the children’s sports video game series that began back in 1997, comes to mobile for the first time, moving the long-running console and PC franchise into the $25 billion dollar mobile game market. This relaunch takes place under the ownership of Day 6 Sports Group, which was launched last year by industry executives from Nike, Lego, and Spin Master. Their new game comes through a partnership with San Francisco-based mobile technology company Fingerprint, which not only developed the game but also helped build a synchronization feature to real-world toys to encourage children to be more active.

The first game under this relaunch is Backyard Sports NBA ’15, scheduled to hit iOS and Android mobile platforms in the first quarter of 2015. The game is fully licensed with the NBA, and it will feature kid-sized versions of sports stars like Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. For the real-world sync up twist, NBA ’15 pairs with the Mega Morph Super Hoop, which will be on sale at major retailers nationwide this year for $25. The toy features a motorized rim that changes in size on the fly to test players’ skill as well as a function that tracks play as Action Points, which you can use as in-game power-ups.

Fingerprint’s technology platform also powers a dedicated Backyard Sports sports network and mobile game channel. On this channel, users can play as kid-sized versions of pro athletes, and they’re also encouraged to be active in the real world.