The game Backyard Football ’99 has been released by Playground Productions on Steam and mobile platforms, marking the return of the kid-focused football series. The remaster brings back the original cast of child athletes and features younger versions of prominent NFL players such as Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Randall Cunningham, and Steve Young.
However, Brett Favre is not included in this release. Developer Mega Cat Studios replaced him with a new character named Chase Downfield. This marks the first time these remastered titles have added an original character to the roster.
Unlike its initial 1999 version, Backyard Football ’99 does not feature official NFL team names, logos, or colors due to licensing changes. Instead, players can create teams with names like Labrador Receivers or Dirty Socks. This approach differs from other recent Backyard Sports releases; for example, Backyard Baseball ’01 launched earlier in July with Major League Baseball teams and branding.
According to Lindsay Barnett, CEO of Playground Productions: “Backyard Football ‘99 made me a football fan for life. From learning plays to managing teams, this game made football accessible, fun, and exciting for all ages (…) I am so proud to bring it back in time for football season.”
Future plans from Playground Productions include re-releases of Backyard Basketball ’01 and Backyard Hockey ’02, though no specific dates have been announced.
