Rematch Devs Explain Why the Game Isn’t Free-to-Play

The Rematch executive producer recently revealed in an interview that, despite the industry’s expectations for an online competitive game, he never considered a free-to-play sales model—he focused on making “a very good game.” The arcade‑style third‑person soccer game has been making waves since its June 19 release, and its producer has commented on certain aspects of Rematch and offered his perspective on what it takes to make a successful game.

Developed by the same studio that made the successful roguelike beat 'em up Sifu, Rematch introduces players to a fast‑paced soccer experience where they control one player at a time—they can attack, defend, or even become a goalkeeper. But Rematch sets itself apart from traditional soccer games, as it features no fouls, offsides, throw‑ins, or goal kicks. The matches play continuously in a walled-in arena that keeps the ball in play, allowing players to dribble, aim, and shoot with a physicality that somewhat resembles Sifu. Rematch also allows for 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 matches, and it's available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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By Nick Rodriguez

Speaking to PC Gamer, the executive producer of the successful Rematch, Pierre Tarno, explained that he didn’t consider making a free-to-play game, no matter what the industry trends suggest regarding online competitive games. Pierre is well aware of the common belief that if these types of games don’t adopt a free-to-play model, they are “dead on arrival,” though the developer stayed true to its vision despite this.

Rematch Producer Says Competitive Games Don’t Need to Be Free-to-Play to Succeed

Tarno went on to say that he doesn’t believe in “formulas” or “secrets” to making a successful game, but just one, which is: making “a very good game.” Tarno explains that while players' expectations may vary and they can have a “discerning taste,” analyzing every bit of the game and every mechanic, if a game is original, solid, and reasonably priced, he thinks they’ll just like it—which seems to be the case with Rematch’s recent wave of positive reviews. Tarno added that developer Sloclap likes to offer players a challenge, something that was pretty clear in its previous hit, Sifu.

Whatever it is that Sloclap is doing seems to be working, as Rematch reached over 1 million players after its day-one release on Xbox Game Pass in less than 24 hours and has also seen significant success on Steam, peaking at 92,841 simultaneous players. Rematch’s popularity will likely continue increasing over time, and the developer has promised to bring seasonal updates with new modes, maps, and cosmetic content in the future.

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