Pro Jank Footy — is an arcade game about Australian football, which will be released on PlayStation 5 on August 12. The developers describe it as a love letter to Aussie Rules Footy, 90s sports games, and local humor without brakes.
The creators are not trying to make a simulator. Here, the classic rules of Australian football have been reimagined for a fast-paced and absurd arcade format, where after each goal, the opponent gets a chance to choose one of three random power-ups.
Over 150 power-ups and complete chaos on the field
The game features more than 150 bonuses. Some make your team faster or gigantic, others harm the opponent, and there are those that change the very rules of the match. Examples include the appearance of a third team, turning players into seagulls, resetting the score, or even transforming one of the players into a battered dad sedan.
There are also deliberately vague power-ups like Burnt DVD or Where's the Remote? — what exactly they do will have to be figured out during the game. A separate little fun: you can hit the trophy against a shopping cart to break it.
Couch, online, and solo modes
Pro Jank Footy is primarily designed for local co-op, but you can also play solo against bots and online. There is a Normal Footy mode without power-ups for those who want a classic match, as well as a seasonal campaign for a single player. In it, you start with a random set of powers and go through ten increasingly crazier teams to become the Pro Jank World Champion.
Also available are Watch Mode, where you can just watch the AI battle each other, and Kick-to-Kick Mode — a nod to the classic game about Aussie Rules Footy.
The game was built around a joke that turned into a release
The project started as a challenge in 2024 when David Ashby was encouraged to try his hand at video games during a BBQ for a fantasy football league. The team also includes Broden Kelly from Aunty Donna, who voiced the commentary in the game, artist Hyomin Yoo, who animated the goal celebration scenes, online functions programmer Oscar Armstrong-Davis, and composer Dario Russo. The project is supported by Umbrella Entertainment.
Separately, the creators are launching custom arcade cabinets in pubs across Australia for the tournament scene. These cabinets can run on car batteries and even have AM transmitters so the game sound can be heard through the radio.
