Pickleball may not be an Olympic sport, but its rising popularity has led to the creation of a new video game. Released on Wednesday by FarSight Studios in collaboration with the Professional Pickleball Association, "PPA Pickleball Tour 2025" allows players to compete against top professional pickleball athletes in real PPA Tour venues. The game is available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam.
Since the pandemic, pickleball has rapidly gained popularity and is now the fastest-growing sport in the United States, according to the latest data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Over 13 million people played the sport last year.
Parker Roberts, the PPA's vice president of revenue, highlighted the significance of the video game's release, stating that it demonstrates how pickleball "has truly gone mainstream."
“The launch of 'PPA Pickleball Tour 2025' represents the latest step in the game’s explosive growth and will help bring the sport to millions of new players," Roberts said in a news release.
The game features the likenesses of the world's top pickleball players and allows users to equip their avatars with paddles and apparel from real-world pickleball brands. Gamers can practice against an artificial intelligence opponent in a "quick play" mode or compete in simulated PPA Tour events to earn career achievements.
Pickleball's inclusion in video game culture aligns it with other professional sports leagues, such as NBA 2K and PGA TOUR 2K. In 2022, pickleball was named the official sport of Washington State, and its community has grown significantly, with local Facebook groups and fitness centers embracing the sport by installing courts and offering classes. Some cities are even seeing the emergence of pickleball social clubs.