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Rematch Beta Shatters Steam Records—What Sloclap’s Arcade Football Hit Means for Gamers

Rematch Beta Shatters Steam Records—What Sloclap’s Arcade Football Hit Means for Gamers

G
GAIAMay 29, 2025
5 min read
Gaming

Every now and then, a game comes out of nowhere and completely upends the pecking order. That’s exactly what caught my eye with Rematch, the fast-paced five-a-side soccer brawler from Sifu’s creators, Sloclap. Sure, we all expected Sloclap’s next project to be slick, but I didn’t see it blowing up to the point where it’s outpacing EA FC’s numbers on Steam. If you’re even remotely tuned into the PC sports scene, this is the kind of shakeup that demands attention.

Rematch Beta Surges Past EA FC-Arcade Football Goes Mainstream

Key Takeaways

  • Rematch’s beta broke into Steam’s top ten, peaking at over 146,000 concurrent players-outperforming even EA FC’s all-time high.
  • Sloclap doubles down on “no pay-to-win”-cosmetic-only monetization, season passes, and no lootboxes.
  • Gameplay ditches soccer rules for frantic, Rocket League-influenced fun where every second counts.
  • Massive early adoption signals real appetite for competitive, pick-up-and-play sports games—especially from trusted indie studios.
FeatureSpecification
PublisherSloclap
Release DateJune 19, 2025
GenresArcade, Sports, Multiplayer
PlatformsPC (Steam)
Rematch gameplay - two teams battling for the ball in a neon-lit arena
Rematch turns every match into a highlight reel—constant action with zero downtime. This is not your dad’s soccer sim.

Let’s get this out of the way: Rematch’s explosion isn’t a fluke. The Sifu pedigree matters—Sloclap has proven they know how to build tight, responsive action, and their pivot from martial arts brawling to arcade football actually makes a weird kind of sense. Like Sifu, Rematch is all about player mastery, but this time it’s about trick shots, quick passes, and creative mayhem rather than parrying kicks to the face. It’s five-a-side soccer with no fouls, no offsides, and absolutely zero pretense of simulation. That sounds wild, and after playing a few rounds, I can confirm: it is.

Rematch close-up - intense one-on-one action as a player lines up a shot
Forget the rulebook—Rematch wants you to score with style, not spreadsheets. Expect wild shots and plenty of last-second saves.

The real headline here, though, is the player count. Breaking 146,000 concurrent players on day one of an open beta is nuts, especially when you realize that’s a bigger crowd than EA’s own football juggernaut has ever pulled on Steam. Sure, it’s a free playtest for now, but that’s still a signal: people are desperate for an alternative to the annualized, microtransaction-riddled behemoths. Maybe we’ve all been waiting for a multiplayer soccer experience that’s as easy to pick up as Rocket League, but with a fresh, on-foot twist.

Rematch overhead - full team action with creative passing and bold tackles
Every player controls a single team member, pushing coordination and chaotic improvisation to the forefront. The learning curve feels steep but fair.

But what’s just as important—if not more so—is how Sloclap is handling monetization. In a world where “sports game” and “predatory microtransactions” are basically synonyms, Rematch is drawing a hard line: no pay-to-win, no lootboxes, no “hidden systems”. It’s all cosmetic, all optional, and—crucially—players who grind the full premium pass are rewarded enough currency to nab the next one for free. That’s the kind of pro-consumer approach that actually earns trust (and, ironically, probably more sales in the long run).

Rematch player customization - team lineup in wild, stylish outfits
Sloclap promises all customization is cosmetic—and judging from the early beta, there’s plenty of room to flex your style without breaking the game’s balance.

From a community perspective, Rematch’s “open door” playtest policy is another win. You can request access on Steam, or get a friend invite, and the studio says they’ll be ramping up player capacity as the beta goes on. That’s a subtle but smart move—it keeps hype high and gets real player feedback fast, instead of waiting for launch-day surprises.

Rematch arena - vibrant, compact pitch with futuristic scoreboard
The arenas are tight, the pace is relentless, and the vibe feels closer to an eSport-in-the-making than a weekend kickabout. Rematch is clearly built for both casual fun and sweaty competitive play.

What This Means for Gamers

For anyone tired of recycled sports games and exploitative monetization, Rematch feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s not pretending to be FIFA, and that’s the point—the game throws out the rulebook in favor of pure fun. That said, it’s still early days. Will the skill ceiling keep things interesting long-term? Can Sloclap maintain momentum once the free beta ends and the $29.99 price tag kicks in? Those are real questions worth watching.

Still, if you’re a fan of Rocket League, old-school NBA Street, or even just high-energy multiplayer chaos, this is the indie sports experiment to watch. Rematch’s early surge is more than a fluke—it’s a statement that there’s room (and demand) for new blood in the digital football world. Now it’s up to Sloclap to keep delivering.

TL;DR

Rematch’s Steam beta just made indie sports history, outpacing EA FC and proving there’s massive hunger for competitive, accessible soccer games that don’t nickel-and-dime players. Whether Sloclap can keep this momentum post-launch is the real game to watch—but right now, this is the most exciting thing to hit the sports genre in years.

Source: Sloclap via GamesPress