Even after Epic Games acquired Psyonix, the Rocket League experience has remained unfazed for over a decade. So unaltered that the game even continues to run on Unreal Engine 3 since its initial launch. All that is about to change. During the semi-finals at the Paris Majors, Psyonix unveiled a “new era of Rocket League.” Potentially its most significant update for the steadfast soccer sim, and our clearest glimpse at what Epic’s next engine might look like in action.
Unassuming at its 2015 launch, Rocket League has proved one of the most unshakable online multiplayer games. Its success attracted Epic Games, who purchased its creators Psyonix in 2020 and made Rocket League free-to-play. While Epic’s bigger cash cow, Fortnite, is constantly fluctuating, being introduced into Epic’s ecosystem has not changed the Rocket League formula in any way that would offend longtime fans.
Though players remain chuffed, many speculated it was only a matter of time before Rocket League was given a more significant coat of paint. The crowd at the Paris Majors were treated to this next chapter. A teaser unveiled during the semi-finals showed off shinier cars, finer blades of grass and high-flying automotive acrobatics. The biggest surprise isn’t that Rocket League is migrating to a new engine, but that this teaser is our clearest glimpse at Unreal Engine 6.
Not much has been said about Unreal Engine 6 ahead of now. Most of what we know comes from a 2025 conversation between Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and other weird tech guy Lex Friedman. The chat suggested that new engine was still a few years out. It’s no secret that on top of generating heaps of cash, Fortnite also acts as a kind of testing ground for new Unreal features. It is surprising but pleasant to see that the scrappier Rocket League is being allowed to take center stage as Unreal Engine 6’s first show piece.
