Rocket Leagueis one of the most unique multiplayer games on the market, and one of the most enduring live-service games today. First released back in 2015,Rocket Leaguedrops players into a world where high-speed cars compete in an intense game of soccer. The game has expanded its reach to multiple platforms since its original launch on the PlayStation 4 and the PC, and continues to see massive player counts as it’s reached its astounding 18th season while showing no signs of slowing down.
Beyond its own success,Rocket Leaguehas had a huge impact on other sports gameson the market, specifically in the landscape of arcade-based sports titles. It’s seen so much success that its developer, Psyonix, has even gotten to create a spinoff in 2023 calledRocket Racing, which is included in the ever-popularFortnite. Fans of this game who are looking for more arcade-based sports game goodness should also circle June 19 on their calendars, as another indie developer looks to take its own step into the world of soccer gaming.
Rocket League Fans Have A New Game To Look Forward To
Sloclap’s Rematch Launches On June 19
Fans ofRocket Leagueshould look forward to June 19, as this marks the launch ofan upcoming soccer game calledRematch. Developed by Sloclap, the team that created 2017’sAbsolverand 2022’sSifu, this new game is set to be a major departure from the martial arts-themed, action-based gameplay of Sloclap’s past titles. Most notably, this new project will see players controlling several players in a soccer game, the developer’s first crack at a sports video game, and a game with a much brighter aesthetic than Sloclap’s previous titles.
While it is a major switch-up from the developer’s action-based games of the past, Sloclap is applying much of its knowledge and experience from those games intothe creation ofRematch. The result will be a multiplayer soccer-based game where players can engage in 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 matches, with the latter option also featuring ranked battles. It will continue to receive new modes and content over time, with an offline mode featuring computer-controlled teammates set to be made available sometime in 2026.
Rematch Wears Its Rocket League Influence On Its Sleeve
Compared to popular soccer games on the market, such as theEA Sports FCseries,Rematchappears to be taking on more of an arcade styleinstead of focusing all of its attention on realism. Most notably,Rematchtouts that it will feature no fouls, no offsides, and no penalties, placing more of the emphasis on the fast-paced action that occurs on the field. Players switch control between attackers, defenders, and goalies, and the ball never leaves the field of play, meaning there will be no throw-ins or goal kicks in this game either.
Rocket Leaguefans should certainly look out for this title, as it seems to be courting much of the same audience that game does. Sloclap has outwardly citedRocket Leagueas one of the game’s biggest inspirations, alongsideOverwatch. Of course, players will not be driving cars this time around, instead playing soccer on foot, butRematchlooks to matchRocket League’s desire for a fast-paced, soccer-based fantasy that can be enjoyed by fans regardless of their interest in the sport.
Rematchappears to be taking on more of an arcade style instead of focusing all of its attention on realism.
Rematch Will Not Follow Rocket League’s Current Free-To-Play Model
Perhaps the only thing that could holdRematch’s path to commercial success back compared toRocket League, however, is that this new title is set to be a paid game. WhileRocket Leaguewas a paid titlefor the first five years of its life, it eventually turned into a free-to-play game in 2020 following developer Psyonix’s acquisition by Epic Games. Sloclap has also yet to reveal how muchRematchwill cost, but one can only hope that its launch price is not much higher thanRocket League’s initial $20 price when it released in 2015.
Still,Rematchlooks to carve out its own nichealongsideRocket Leagueand become one of the most popular sports titles on the market. Sloclap’s title has been heavily compared toRocket Leaguealready, and it wears quite a bit of that inspiration on its sleeve, but it satisfies the desire for a similar game that takes a more conventional, on-foot soccer approach without cars. Here’s hopingRematchdelivers on the promise of Sloclap’s previous games and manages to coexist nicely alongsideRocket Leaguein the live-service market.
