Among the surprises of the Game Awards evening was Rematch, a new arcade-style football game with innovative control mechanics. The title might have been easily overlooked among the numerous announcements of the ceremony, but it did not account for the name of the studio behind this project: Sloclap, creators of Absolver and Sifu. For their third game, the Parisian studio ventures out of its comfort zone to explore a highly multiplayer-oriented football game, with the distinctive twist of controlling only one player on the field and having the camera positioned just behind them. This approach is quite unprecedented and may remind players of Rocket League in certain aspects. Another notable feature of Rematch is that roles dynamically change as situations evolve: from scorer to defender, passing through the goalkeeper role, whose unique abilities have been specifically designed for its particular requirements.
Like its two preceding productions, Sloclap emphasizes gameplay that aims to be precise and demanding, requiring good mastery of dribbling, aiming, and timing—elements already present in their fighting games. This approach is both original and consistent with the sport of football, where a player’s skill is constantly tested. Rematch will also offer a competitive 5v5 mode, featuring fast-paced gameplay and seasonal content post-launch. Its release is scheduled for summer 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
