Rocket League is one of the most successful online games currently. According to the developers, over 38 million players have tried the title and more than two billion matches have been played. To continue the success in 2018, Psyonix announced several improvements for the new year.
Considering that there were still 30 million in April, 8 million new players in just a few months is a significant number. The developer describes 2017 as the strongest year for Rocket League so far, after it was released in 2015. A contributing factor to the success in the second half of the year is the release on the Nintendo Switch. Rocket League has been occupying the top spot in the download charts on the Nintendo shop for weeks.
It’s clear that with such a large number of players, many fans are looking forward to the upcoming year 2018, as it will bring several updates. The team has shared a bit about what those will be as the year comes to a close.
Rocket League in 2018: Better Server Performance and More
Among the most important improvements is enhanced server performance. This should help Rocket League run even better. The client will display more information about the connection in the future: This includes things like packet loss and latency variance. This is meant to ensure that developers can find and fix issues faster. Additionally, they are focusing on the following areas:
- Improved matchmaking system – they also want to optimize the server locations.
- E-sports will be expanded in the coming year. This includes optimizations for in-game tournaments, for which a beta test is planned for early 2018.
- Further improvements are also planned for the progress system. Experience points should help you earn banners and titles.
- The cross-platform play between different systems is also an area that developers want to focus on more in the future. A successful test took place last autumn.
There is certainly a lot for Rocket League fans to look forward to in the coming year.
This is Rocket League
If you haven’t tried the fast-paced online game yet, now is a good opportunity. During the Steam Winter Sale, you can currently get the game for just about 12 euros (link opens Steam).
Then you’ll dive into fast matches where you try to shoot a ball into the opponent’s goal with your car. However, this is significantly more difficult than it sounds. Rocket League can be played in the modes 1vs1, 2vs2, 3vs3, or 4vs4. The team that scores the most goals wins. A match usually lasts five minutes, plus any additional time in case of a tie.
In matches, it’s important not only to play as a team but also to manage your car, which is equipped with a rocket boost. You can customize it over time in areas such as body, paint, wheels, antenna, roof accessories, rocket trail, tire trail, decals, goal explosion, and engine sound. Points are awarded not just for scoring a goal but also for:
- the first ball contact after a kick-off
- the way you score a goal (backwards, in stoppage time, etc.)
- a pass into the opponent’s penalty area
- a goal assist that leads to success
- the defense of the ball before the goal
- a won match
- and several other things
With the points collected, you level up, leading to matchups against different opponents and climbing the rankings. It is important, similar to football, to always maintain an overview and keep control of your car, to play excellently as a team, and to devise a good strategy.
An interesting game element of Rocket League is that the driving physics of the cars and the physics of the ball do not reflect reality. It is possible to drive briefly along the ceiling of the arena, perform long jumps, or drive super-fast with a turbo boost.
Rocket League is a fun and fast-paced game, which, according to Steamcharts, boasts an average of over 34,000 concurrent players on Steam. Here, players from the Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch versions are not even included.
