Pro Jank Footy will bring its chaotic take on Australian Rules Football to PlayStation 5 on August 12. The upcoming arcade sports game puts a playful spin on the Australian sport, with more than 150 power-ups that can turn a normal match into something much stranger. The release was announced on the PlayStation Blog.
Created by David Ashby and Tyler Roach, the game draws from retro sports titles such as NBA Jam and NHL ’94. The central twist is simple. Whenever a player scores, the opposing team gets to choose one of three random power-ups.
Those powers can help the losing side recover or completely scramble the match. Some make a team faster or gigantic, while others reset the score, add a third team, or transform every player into a seagull. One especially odd option turns a player into a beat-up sedan that can be driven into a shopping trolley.
Not every power-up explains itself. Cards with names such as Burnt DVD and Where’s the Remote? leave players to discover their effects during the match. That unpredictability is the game’s answer to the usual problem of falling behind in a sports game. Losing can give players the tools they need to fight back.
Modes for serious footy and total nonsense
The main Pro Jank Footy mode includes the full power-up system, while Normal Footy removes those effects for a more traditional match. Players can compete locally in couch co-op, play alone against bots, or take matches online.
Season Mode provides the game’s single-player campaign. Each run begins with a random set of powers before sending players through ten increasingly bizarre teams. The lineup includes a team of giants, a squad made entirely of cars, and a side built around one unstoppable player.
There is also a Watch Mode for observing AI-controlled matches and Kick-to-Kick Mode, which serves as a throwback to older Australian Rules Football games. The latter has become especially popular with younger players during development.
From a dare to arcade cabinets
The project began as a challenge in 2024 during a fantasy football league barbecue. Entertainment lawyer Cam Rogers suggested that Ashby try making a funny video game, later joining the project as producer.
The wider team includes Broden Kelly of Australian comedy group Aunty Donna, who provides the in-game commentary, and Adelaide-based artist Hyemin Yoo, who animated the goal celebrations. Oscar Armstrong-Davies built the online features, while Dario Russo composed the music and team songs.
Umbrella Entertainment is supporting the game as it expands from film distribution into video games. The team has also started placing custom arcade cabinets in pubs across Australia. The machines can run on car batteries and include AM radio transmitters that send the game audio to nearby radios.
With its mix of local sports culture, retro presentation, and deliberately silly rules, Pro Jank Footy is aiming for a very different kind of football match when it arrives on PS5 on August 12.
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