Rocket League Gives Us Our First Look At Unreal Engine 6

Rocket League has stayed largely unchanged since its 2015 launch, continuing to run on Unreal Engine 3 even after Epic Games acquired Psyonix in 2020 and made the game free-to-play. Despite Epic’s influence through Fortnite, Rocket League’s core formula has remained consistent for longtime players. At the Paris Majors semi-finals, Psyonix unveiled a “new era of Rocket League,” presenting shinier cars, more detailed grass, and higher-flying vehicle acrobatics. The teaser is presented as the clearest look at Unreal Engine 6, an engine with limited prior information. Fortnite has served as a testing ground for Unreal features, and Rocket League is now positioned as the first major showcase for Unreal Engine 6.

"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."

"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."

"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."

Read at Kotaku