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| (Image Source: Yahoo! News Philippines/Epic Games/Psyonix) |
Since Epic picked up Psyonix and Rocket League, it is only a matter of time before the game would shift focus to a new and satisfying storefront. In the intervening year, the game shifted towards microtransactions which are something one should expect from a free-to-play product, dropping free items players might accrue and featuring a more integral store component. Despite these, there's no stopping players from coming back into the game every month and it is expected to have more through the summer updates.
On the other hand, Psyonix has been very busy even before the big changes sufficed. In January 2019, Rocket League became the second game ever to achieve crossplay across all available platforms, which has been quickly adapted by multiplayer games as gaming shifts into a new generation. Early this year, it was among the featured showcases in ESPN2's eSports coverage sharing the stage with NBA 2K20, Apex Legends and other virtual competitions fit for a world where actual sports is not feasible due to the continuing threat of the global coronavirus pandemic.
According to Psyonix's official blog regarding Rocket League's free-to-play update, players who have played the game prior to the launch of the update will receive a Legacy status which gifts players with free downloadable content (DLC), a myriad of common items upgraded to legacy status, and a few new cosmetic options. In addition, the update will add cross-progression through a player's Epic Games account where one's in-game items are seamlessly transferred to various gaming platforms. Meanwhile, those who own Rocket League on Valve's Steam platform can still enjoy the same benefits as in other platforms and get to play with their friends online worry-free.
However, those who don't have Rocket League on their Steam may no longer download and install the game on the platform once the Free To Play update arrives. Instead, Rocket League for PC will be exclusively available on the Epic Games Store alongside Fortnite, Battle Breakers, Unreal Tournament and first-party Epic Games titles. Furthermore, as part of the update launch, Psyonix promises updated menus and revamped Tournaments and Challenges.
