Epic Games is preparing for the arrival of Rocket League under Unreal Engine 6 with the pros

Epic Games is taking advantage of the end of the Rocket League World Championship to unveil a video discussing the future of the game. Indeed, starting next year, it will transition to Unreal Engine 6, which will allow for a much more modern visual rendering. To ensure this major update does not harm the soul of the game, the development team has consulted with pro players to gather their feedback. 

A new era that promises to be crazy

Currently, Rocket League runs on Unreal Engine 3, affectionately known as UE3, and has done so since 2015. Epic Games' game engine is a staple that has allowed many titles to dazzle visually in their time. However, the engine is now about twenty years old, and two iterations have already been released. Until now, the development studio has preserved this structure to ensure the quality of the ball and vehicle physics. The goal is to guarantee gameplay quality, especially since the title is highly prized on the Esports scene. Nevertheless, last May, during the RLCS circuit Major, Epic Games announced news that will change the game: Rocket League will evolve in 2027. 

Not a Rocket League 2, but an evolution that will rejuvenate this title, which is now over ten years old. Thus, next year, Rocket League will transition to Unreal Engine 6, Epic Games' brand new engine. This engine is still under development. By opting for the upcoming new version, instead of settling for UE5, which is currently performing wonders, the studio aims to modernize the entire visual aspect while transforming the game into a true showcase. The leap forward will be impressive. However, this technical change inevitably involves other modifications and adjustments. 

For Epic Games, sacrificing the soul of the gameplay is out of the question. That's why Psyonyx has invited several professional players in recent months to come and test the new version. As you can see in the video below, ViolentPanda and Firstkiller from Shopify Rebellion, Extra, Vatira, and Juicy from Karmine Corp, nass and Archie from Gentle Mates, and Zen from Team Vitality, to name a few, were able to provide their feedback directly to the development team. Why is this important? Because pro players are sensitive to even the slightest changes, especially those that seem transparent to the general public. They can better appreciate the physics of the elements, movements, fluidity, positioning, etc. This approach should ensure the best possible launch for the next generation. 

Epic Games also took advantage of the end of the World Championship to announce the RLCS Club Championship, a competitive event that will take place in December at the Copper Box Arena in London. 20 clubs will be directly invited to the event, and four others can join the festivities through a qualification phase starting in November. A small but important detail, the tournament will have a prize pool of 2.5 million dollars. 

Cover image: Epic Games®