Epic Games and developer Psyonix just dropped a major bombshell. They unveiled the future of Rocket League to cap off the 2026 Rocket League Paris Major. The popular free-to-play game will receive a massive visual upgrade. Furthermore, this makeover marks the official public debut of the highly anticipated Unreal Engine 6.
Rocket League Takes A Massive Visual Leap
During the event, the developers revealed an impressive teaser trailer. The footage showed Rocket League running in real-time on Unreal Engine 6. Consequently, players got a clear look at the game’s next-generation graphics. The trailer highlighted stunning new lighting and intricate details on both the cars and the field. Moreover, dynamic lighting and highly reflective surfaces stood out as the star features. These enhancements give the game a clear, undeniable visual upgrade from its current state.
Rocket League originally launched in 2015. Back then, developers built the simple yet difficult-to-master PvP game on Unreal Engine 3, starting development in 2013. Epic Games later bought Psyonix in 2019 and transitioned the game to a free-to-play model. Now, the title sits closely tied to the Unreal ecosystem.
However, you will have to wait a bit longer for this new update. The publishers did not share a specific release date for the Rocket League upgrade. Additionally, Unreal Engine 6 itself is not ready for widespread release. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney initially teased the new engine back in 2025. Still, this recent showcase represents the very first time anyone has seen it publicly. If history repeats itself, a full release of Unreal Engine 6 remains about two to three years away. Epic Games will likely roll out early access for the software before broader industry adoption occurs.
Impact on the Broader Gaming Industry
Currently, Unreal Engine 5 serves as the industry standard. Epic Games revealed UE5 in 2020, launched early access in 2021, and fully released it in 2022. The transition took a while, but it marked a definite upgrade in immersion. Notable games like Black Myth: Wukong, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Borderlands 4 use this current software.
Upcoming titles such as The Witcher 4 and Halo: Campaign Evolved also confirmed their use of UE5. Since Halo: Campaign Evolved targets a 2026 release window, it will likely stick with UE5. Meanwhile, developers working on early-stage projects might make the switch soon. For example, CD Projekt Red could potentially transition the development of Cyberpunk 2 over to the new engine. For now, gamers can simply look forward to playing Rocket League with a shiny new coat of Unreal Engine 6 paint.
