Rocket League is getting a mobile spinoff. Developer Psyonix announced a new installment of the franchise called Rocket League Sideswipe, which is a simplified version of the game built for mobile devices.
Rocket League Sideswipe is the first new game in the franchise since it debuted in 2015. Like its console counterparts, Sideswipe is a hybrid sports/driving game where players control rocket cars in a sci-fi soccer game.
The new stand-alone game is in development for both iOS and Android. Psyonix says it’s targeting a 2021 launch, though no specific window was given. It will launch as a free game.
The main difference between Rocket League and Sideswipe is that the mobile version only features one-versus-one or two-versus-two matches. Rounds are much faster-paced and only last two minutes. It features a zoomed-out camera that shows the whole arena at once, rather than just tracking one player’s car.
Sideswipe features touchscreen controls, online play, and customization features similar to the mainline game. The game will have an online ranking system for competitive online play.
Alpha testing for the game begins today, but only in Australia and New Zealand. Players in those regions can now try the limited-time test by downloading the game on Android through the Google Play store. Psyonix says it will have more information about betas in other regions in the next few months.
The mainline Rocket League game continues to grow as it recently came to new consoles and adopted a free-to-play model. Last year, the game hit a new milestone when it crossed 1 million concurrent players for the first time.
