The absolute decline of Pro Evolution Soccer in recent years has left the path clear for EA to turn FIFA (now EA Sports FC) into the gambling empire it always knew it could be. Without a real challenger to EA’s gaming football monopoly, gameplay lay forgotten. That is, until SloClap, the developers behind 2022’s Sifu, decided to take it on with Rematch. Kinda.
Rematch is as far from a ‘proper’ footballing sim as it gets, and it’s arguably just the kick up the backside that the genre needed. Fans who want the most detailed match experience can stick with EA Sports FC’s absurd prices and predatory online modes. The rest can play Rematch, a cartoony arcade online multiplayer football title that does away with the typical rules and is designed for “nonstop competitive play.”
Not another Knockout City, please
You won’t have to wait long to see what the devs behind Sifu have cooked up. Announced at last night’s Triple-i Initiative showcase, Rematch kicks off on 19 June 2025 and carries with it a $30 price. We had hoped that SloClap wouldn’t fall into the same traps as EA Sports FC, but less affordable editions are available with perks that’ll get you going a little quicker with something it calls a ‘Captain Pass’.
Still, Rematch isn’t aiming to be a yearly effort, at least not for the moment. We can deal with a purely cosmetic battle pass as long as seasonal content isn’t locked behind a paywall. There’s plenty of room for Rematch to be a wacky arcade footballer if done right, seeing as it already features an underwater map, and players are pulling off all sorts of acrobatics to ensure the ball finds the back of the net. Think NBA Jam, but for football.
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With no rules or VAR to speak of and a boundary wall that you’d typically find on an indoor pitch (though much taller), the beautiful game is about to become a whole lot less beautiful. You’ll need to keep your wits about you, too. A bad shot is no longer just a bad shot. It’s actually a pass off the wall to a teammate lying in wait. At least, that’s what your teammate will say after the fact. As long it goes in, right?
You can see the available perks for Rematch’s $30, $40, and $50 editions here. If you still need convincing, SloClap have organised an open beta, starting 18 April and lasting two days, though the company is still dishing out invite-only beta keys for a lucky few who sign up (here). Rematch will be available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.
