A sports brawler meets a MOBA in Sparkball with a demo coming to Steam Next Fest

If you love sports and fast-paced action, Sparkball will be one you need to check out with a playable demo coming in Steam Next Fest.

What is it? Sparkball pits two teams of four in fast-paced, high-stakes matches where players brawl, block, and score in a futuristic arena. Matches are short, intense, and highly replayable, making the game easy to pick up but tough to master. The game celebrates versatility, rewarding both "ballin' and brawlin'", with the top players effortlessly blending them as each unique situation demands. Whether blocking shots, setting up plays, scoring goals, or simply out-duelling your opponent, there’s something to love for every type of gamer.

For the demo and release, I've been told there will be "no anti-cheat at this stage (regardless of platform)" and their focus is on Steam Deck support for it too. So looks like potentially another fun multiplayer title we can play with Valve's Proton on Linux systems.

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Created by Opti Games which has developers who previously worked on the likes of League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Overwatch and more. From the rather brief actual gameplay in the trailer, it looks very chaotic. Exactly my kind of thing.

Highlights from the press release:

• A Genre-Bending Mix – A first-of-its-kind multiplayer sports brawler where precision, teamwork, and quick thinking rule the field.
• Short, Replayable Matches – Easy to pick up, hard to master — perfect for quick sessions, endless hours of ranked grind, and a rowdy Friday night session with friends.
• Something for Everyone – Unique blend of gameplay ensures that no matter your primary genre of choice, you’ll find something to love in Sparkball
• Steam Deck Compatibility – Built to play beautifully on the go.
• Streaming and Esports Ready – Contagiously fun to watch casually with proven traction in competitive circles with C9, TL, FNC, and more!

When the demo goes live during Steam Next Fest (June 9th), they will give out an exclusive in-game skin to anyone who plays the time-limited demo.