Skip to main content

‘WarpBall’ is a mashup of soccer, pinball, and The Flash

“Weird sports” games have been growing in popularity over the past year, with #IDARB and Rocket League drawing considerable attention for the wrinkles they add to classic sports like basketball and soccer. But what if superpowers and a bit of pinball get thrown into the mix? That’s exactly what WarpBall aims to deliver, provided developer Unruly Attractions gets enough community support.

WarpBall is a futuristic sports game set in a world where teleportation has completely changed how we play football,” developer Nathan John says. “One restriction is that players are unable to teleport while in possession of the ball.”

As shown in Unruly Attractions’ gameplay demonstration, this means that players are forced to constantly pass the ball to their teammates or risk the defense swarming around them and causing a turnover. Customization is also key, as characters can use a number of secondary abilities, including “phasing,” which briefly turns the player and ball invincible as the opposing team attempts a steal. Other abilities include “phase-shot” which makes the ball temporarily unblockable, “snap-back,” which seems to function much like Tracer’s rewinding ability in Overwatch.

But this isn’t just “soccer with superpowers.” A number of pinball-style bumpers are also scattered throughout each arena, opening up the opportunity for bank shots and deceptive passes. Now everyone can bend it like Beckham!

Unruly Attractions says that the game is currently ready to enter a closed alpha state, with a prospective release window of early next year. The team is currently using Square Enix’ “Collective” service to gauge player interest, and the game’s webpage includes a poll on game features, and the ability to share your thoughts directly with the developers.

WarpBall is currently planned for release on PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox One. Square Enix will consider backing the game through crowdfunding based on the feedback it receives.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Razer’s Kishi V2 Pro game controller for Android is 47% off
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro Xbox Edition mobile gaming controller on a black background.

If you love to play video games on your Android smartphone, then you should think about taking advantage of this offer from Amazon's Woot for the Razer Kishi V2 Pro Xbox Edition mobile gaming controller. From an original price of $150, it's down to a much more affordable $80, for savings of $70. There are only a few days left on this bargain, but if you want to make sure that you get the 47% discount, you'll need to make the purchase right now, as there's no assurance that stocks will still be available in the final hours of the deal.

Why you should buy the Razer Kishi V2 Pro Xbox Edition mobile gaming controller
The Razer Kishi V2 Pro offers everything that the Razer Kishi V2 does -- high-quality buttons and triggers, an extendable bridge that can hold all of the most popular Android smartphones, low-latency performance though a USB-C connection, and compatibility with most mobile games and cloud gaming services. However, it earns its "Pro" moniker with the addition of of Razer's Hypersense haptics for controller vibrations so you can literally feel the action, and a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to use wired headphones with the mobile gaming controller.

Read more
PlayStation VR2 production reportedly paused by Sony
PlayStation VR2 headset on blue background.

Sony is reportedly pausing production of the PlayStation VR2 headsets because it has a backlog of unsold headsets.

This report comes from Bloomberg, which claims that PSVR2 sales have slowed every quarter since its February 2023 release, causing stocks of the device to build up. It says Sony has produced 2 million headsets but reportedly hasn't sold through them yet. As a result, it's apparently pausing the production on new units until it works through some of that backlog, according to Bloomberg's anonymous sources.

Read more
This LG 34-inch QHD gaming monitor is discounted from $1,000 to $529
The LG UltraGear monitor on a table.

If you want a top-tier display to go with your gaming PC, check out the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor. Not only will it be a worthy screen for your powerful gaming desktop, but it's also currently on sale from Walmart with a $471 discount that nearly halves its price to just $529 from $1,000. We're not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, but like most monitor deals of this caliber, it will probably end sooner than you think. Buy it now if you don't want to miss out.

Why you should buy the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor
Gamers who are playing the best PC games should have a screen that will let you appreciate modern graphics. That's certainly the case with the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor, as its quad HD resolution promises sharp details and lifelike colors, while its curved screen fills your peripheral vision for more immersive gameplay. The gaming monitor also features a 144Hz refresh rate, which is at the top of our computer monitor buying guide's recommended range, and 1ms response time. With these specifications, you'll enjoy smooth movements and quick reaction times, which are extremely important in multiplayer matches.

Read more