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.
Key Takeaways
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Sloclap |
| Release Date | June 19, 2025 |
| Genres | Arcade, Sports, Multiplayer |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
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