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Developer Psyonix announced today that a Rocket League mobile spin-off title is in development, with Rocket League Sideswipe set to release later this year for free. Rocket League remains a popular multiplayer title across its many platforms, with availability on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and Windows PC. The title, which is a mashup of demolition derby vehicles and popular sports like soccer, hockey, and more, has been a fixture for competitive pursuits and game nights since its release in 2015.

In fact, Rocket League's popularity has remained so widespread that it's still regularly featured as a crossover partner with major properties, most recently announcing a Fortnite Kaskade concert for the game's Llama-Rama event. Rocket League's mix of gameplay, which has been tweaked and added to over the years with multiple game modes, and customization, which allows players to express themselves in a variety of ways, has established a dedicated community. Demand for more Rocket League content remains high, and it appears Psyonix is unexpectedly providing more of it on an exciting platform in the future.

Earlier today, the official Rocket League website announced Rocket League Sideswipe, a free mobile game for iOS and Android that's coming later this year. The title will be a spin-off, standalone Rocket League experience designed for mobile platforms, with 1v1 and 2v2 matches occurring from a side perspective. The announcement states that games will be "fast-paced, 2-minute matches" that can be played with local players or online. The announcement was also accompanied by a brief Rocket League Sideswipe gameplay demonstration.


According to the announcement, Rocket League Sideswipe will have controls designed for mobile with advanced mechanics that will allow players looking to play through Competitive Ranks to evolve their skillsets. The game will also feature a similar car customization system to the one in Rocket League, with an online Ranking system and a worldwide launch for Rocket League Sideswipe coming this year at an unspecified date. Players in Australia and New Zealand will also have the opportunity to join a limited-time Regional Alpha test that begins today.

Rocket League Sideswipe already looks good based on its brief alpha footage, and the core experience is closely related to the phenomenon that has been a multiplayer success for over five years now. There's a lot of potential in this kind of design, too, with quick pick-up-and-play experiences in high demand for mobile game users. Porting the raucous gameplay of Rocket League to mobile through a 2D perspective is an ingenious solution for one of the biggest challenges on mobile platforms - scale - and should open up exciting possibilities in gameplay, too.