Released worldwide on July 7th, 2015, Rocket League took the world by storm with a simple concept combined with exceptional execution: "Soccer, but with rocket-powered cars." It may appear silly and trivial at a glance, but there is deceptively loads of fun and thrills to be enjoyed in this absurd combination. The simplicity of this concept offers an immediate degree of understanding and accessibility to players of all skill levels, while the techniques and mechanics of these rocket-powered cars allow for growth and mastery for players to strive in achieving. And the finely detailed presentation, from the blades of grass to the slow-motion explosions of every goal, make witnessing every miraculous save and goal a marvel to behold.
What may be even more of a marvel to behold though is this game's tremendous rise to popularity and renown. In fact, Rocket League is a sequel to the not quite as successful Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars for the Playstation 3, released in 2008. The game did earn a respectable enough following, though the name certainly didn't roll off the tongue. Taking notes from fan feedback and earning additional revenue in other game projects, the team at Psyonix decided to bring the concept back to the drawing board for Rocket League. One key component to its success aside from the refined mechanics was getting that initial install base. Upon its release, the game was made free to PS+ subscribers, which within just a week of this release, more than 183,000 unique players had joined the frenzy. The developers estimate there were around 6 million downloads of the game from this promotion.
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| Hot Wheels + Rocket League = A Perfect Pair |
The other component of the game's success has been the continued support without infringing on the gameplay experience. Players have been able to enjoy a wealth of new modes and fun car skins, from the likes of hockey to hoops and Batman to Hot Wheels. But the developers ensure once you purchase the game, any additional purchases are simply cosmetic, purely for the enjoyment of the player. Keeping every player on an equal playing field ensures the game remains accessible and able to be enjoyed by all for years to come, which the developers plan to continue supporting with new features for years to come, calling this an "infinite support window". So no matter your preference, be it casual or esport professional, PC master race or Nintendo fanboy, local couch co-op or online multiplayer, Rocket League was designed with the player in mind and the platform in which to enjoy this game with unabashed, rocket-powered bliss.
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