Rematch (video game)

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = Rematch | image = File:Rematch game cover art.jpg | developer = Sloclap | publisher = Sloclap<br/>[[Kepler Interactive]] | director = Pierre Tarno | engine = [[Unreal Engine 5]] | platforms = {{ubl|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Windows]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}} | released = 19 June 2025 | genre = [[Sports game|Sports]] | modes = [[Multiplayer]] }} '''''Rematch''''' is a 2025 [[sports game]] developed by [[Sloclap]] and co-published by [[Kepler Interactive]]. In the game, players control one player on their team in an [[association football]] match from a [[third-person perspective]]. The game was released on 19 June 2025 for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 5]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S]]. The [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] awarded ''Rematch'' with [[D.I.C.E. Award for Sports Game of the Year|Sports Game of the Year]] at the [[29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]]. Cross-play was released in September 2025, which greatly improved [[Esports|eSports]] performance like the Major Rematch Championship.

== Gameplay == ''Rematch'' is a [[sports video game]] played from a [[third-person perspective]]. Players control a single footballer on the team, switching between [[attacker]] and [[Defender (association football)|defender]] and even the [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]], which has specific abilities. The game features an aim and shoot mechanic for shooting the ball and scoring goals. The game is set in closed virtual reality arenas, with no fouls hence no [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalties]], no [[Offside (association football)|offside]] or any breaks in play. The ball does not go out of play so there are no [[throw-in]]s or [[goal kick]]s either.<ref name="GSpot preview"/>

At launch, the game features four multiplayer modes: 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5, and a ranked 5v5 mode. The game will contain seasonal content to add game modes, events, features, and cosmetics for both players and stadiums.<ref name=":4" /> An offline mode with [[artificial intelligence|AI-controlled teammates]] is set to be released in 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sports/rematch-hands-on-preview-sloclap/|title=Rematch blew away my expectations—trailers don't do Sloclap's 5v5 football game justice|first=Danielle|last=Lucas|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=12 April 2025|accessdate=16 May 2025}}</ref>

==Development== The game is developed by [[Sloclap]], which previously worked on ''[[Sifu (video game)|Sifu]]'' and ''[[Absolver]]''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=13 December 2024 |title=Sifu developer's next game will give football a fresh perspective |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/sifu-developers-next-game-will-give-football-a-fresh-perspective |first=Ed|last=Nightingale|access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ramsey|first=Robert |date=13 December 2024 |title=Sifu Dev Is Making a Crazy Online Football Game Called Rematch, for PS5 in 2025 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/12/sifu-dev-is-making-a-crazy-online-football-game-called-rematch-for-ps5-in-2025 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=[[Push Square]]}}</ref> According to game director Pierre Tarno, the studio's experience in working on brawler games "provided valuable insights into the game's feel, reactivity, and precision, as well as conveying physicality and impact through complex animation systems". ''Absolver'', in particular, inspired ''Rematch''{{'}}s online technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/sloclap-interview-rematch-sifu-absolver-soccer-football/|title=Interview: Sloclap Discusses How Previous Titles Like Sifu Shaped Rematch's Development|first=Dan|last=Amoroso|work=GameRant|date=17 January 2025|accessdate=16 May 2025}}</ref> Tarno also compared the game to [[action video game]]s and [[shooter video games]] played from third-person. It was described by the team as a "simple game", though Tarno added that the game was about "observation and positioning", and players are tasked to make dynamic changes to their tactics in order to succeed. An early mechanic allows players to wall-run, though this was scrapped because the team felt that it "strayed too far from a credible football fantasy that [they] were aiming for".<ref name="GSpot preview">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-online-5v5-soccer-game-had-me-sweating-from-the-pressure/1100-6530784/|title=This Online 5v5 Soccer Game Had Me Sweating From The Pressure|first=Alex|last=Wen|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=10 April 2025|accessdate=16 May 2025}}</ref> ''[[Overwatch (2016 video game)|Overwatch]]'' and ''[[Rocket League]]'' were cited by the team as sources of inspiration.<ref name="announce">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-next-game-from-the-developer-of-sifu-is-an-online-multiplayer-soccer-game-the-game-awards-2024|title=The Next Game From the Developer of Sifu Is an Online Multiplayer Soccer Game - The Game Awards 2024|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|work=[[IGN]]|date=13 December 2024|accessdate=16 May 2025}}</ref> The game is developed with [[Unreal Engine 5]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hashmi |first1=Ali |title=Rematch Pre-Order Bonus, Editions and System Requirements Detailed |url=https://primagames.com/tips/rematch-pre-order-bonus-editions-system-requirements |website=Prima Games |date=21 April 2025}}</ref>

Sloclap and publisher [[Kepler Interactive]] announced the game in December 2024 for [[Windows PC]], [[PlayStation 5]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S]].<ref name="announce"/> The game was released on 19 June 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamingbolt.com/rematch-launches-on-june-19|title=Rematch Launches on June 19|first=Shubhankar|last=Parijat|work=GamingBolt|date=11 April 2025|accessdate=16 May 2025}}</ref> Sloclap apologized to players after failing to enable [[cross-platform play]] at launch, and promised that the feature will be added to the game through a post-launch update.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/news/608065/rematch-crossplay-developer-update|title=Sifu developer's new game Rematch launches without crossplay, studio apologizes|first=Johnny|last=Yu|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=June 20, 2025|accessdate=June 21, 2025}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = 75/100 | OC = 51% recommend<ref name="opencritic">{{cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/18755/rematch|title=''Rematch''|publisher=[[OpenCritic]]|access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref> | GRadar = 3.5/5 }} ''Rematch'' received "generally favorable" scores according to [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]]. Fellow review aggregator [[OpenCritic]] assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 51% of critics.<ref name="opencritic"/>

Fraser Gilbert of ''Pure Xbox'' expressed that "the controls offer amazing potential and allow you to wield all sorts of great moves as long as you're willing to put the effort in."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xbox |first=Pure |date=2025-06-17 |title=Review: Rematch (Xbox) - A Highly Addictive Blend Of Rocket League And Real Football |url=https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-series-x/rematch |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=Pure Xbox |language=en-US}}</ref> Other reviewers were more critical of Rematch. Ben Sledge of ''[[TheGamer]]'' took issue with the game's live-service elements, citing server issues and lacklustre battle passes. Sledge said that "the game has serious issues that border on rendering the game completely unfun."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sledge |first=Ben |date=2025-06-18 |title=Rematch Review: More Sunday League Than Champion's League |url=https://www.thegamer.com/rematch-review/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>

The game attracted more than 1 million players on launch day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rematch-a-soccer-game-from-the-developers-of-sifu-is-off-to-a-hot-start/1100-6532582/|title=Rematch, A Soccer Game From The Developers Of Sifu, Is Off To A Hot Start|first=Tomas|last=Franzese |date=June 20, 2025|accessdate=June 21, 2025|work=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> It reached 3 million players by June 24, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/sloclap-shoots-then-scores-as-rematch-hits-3-million-players-proving-theres-a-surprising-overlap-between-sports-and-fighting-game-fans/|title=Sloclap shoots, then scores as Rematch hits 3 million players, proving there's a surprising overlap between sports and fighting game fans|first=Harvey|last=Randall|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=June 25, 2025|accessdate=June 28, 2025}}</ref>

=== Awards === {| class="wikitable sortable" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}} |- | rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" | 2025 | [[Golden Joystick Awards]] | Best Multiplayer Game | {{nom}} | align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the Golden Joystick Award 2025 charge for most nominations, nudging out Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/events-conferences/clair-obscur-expedition-33-leads-the-golden-joystick-award-2025-charge-for-most-nominations-nudging-out-death-stranding-2-ghost-of-yotei-and-kingdom-come-deliverance-2/ |last=Harris |first=Iain|date=2025-10-03 |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=[[GamesRadar+]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=2025-11-20 |title=All Of The Winners At The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/golden-joystick-awards-2025-all-winners/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[The Game Awards 2025]] | Best Sports/Racing Game | {{nom}} | align="center" |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Claire |date=December 11, 2025 |title=Here are all The Game Awards 2025 winners |url=https://www.polygon.com/the-game-awards-2025-all-winners/ |access-date=December 11, 2025 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> |- | align="center" |2026 | [[29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]] |[[D.I.C.E. Award for Sports Game of the Year|Sports Game of the Year]] |{{won}} | align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |date=2026-01-08 |title=Clair Obscur, Ghost of Yōtei, Arc Raiders, and Dispatch top DICE Awards nominees |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/clair-obscur-ghost-of-yotei-arc-raiders-and-dispatch-top-dice-awards-nominees/ |access-date=2026-01-08 |website=VGC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interactive.org/contact/29th_annual_dice_awards_winners_revealed.asp|title=29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Winners Revealed|website=[[Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences|AIAS]]|date=February 12, 2026|accessdate=February 12, 2026}}</ref> |}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.playrematch.com/}}

[[Category:2025 video games]] [[Category:Association football video games]] [[Category:Kepler Interactive games]] [[Category:Multiplayer games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Sloclap games]] [[Category:Unreal Engine 5 games]] [[Category:Video games developed in France]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox Cloud Gaming games]] [[Category:Xbox Play Anywhere games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]]