If you’re a fan of both Pixar’s Cars franchise and Rocket League’s chaotic, high-octane car soccer, you’ve definitely wondered is Lightning McQueen in Rocket League at least once. Half the fun of Rocket League is showing off custom skins that match your personality, and the game’s long list of wild crossovers (from Fast & Furious to Marvel to Hot Wheels) makes it feel like almost any brand collaboration is possible. We’re breaking down everything we know about the potential Lightning McQueen collab, from official existing content to how to get a near-perfect McQueen look right now, plus what the future might hold for the iconic red race car in the game.
Is Lightning McQueen in Rocket League Right Now?
Let’s get the most straightforward question out of the way first: As of the latest game update, there is no official Lightning McQueen playable car, decal, or cosmetic available in Rocket League. Psyonix, the developer of Rocket League, has never released any official Cars franchise content for the game, despite years of repeated requests from fans. You might have seen clips of Lightning McQueen popping up in gameplay online, but almost all of those are custom modded skins made for private PC lobbies, not official in-game items.
Be wary of any listings online claiming to sell “official Lightning McQueen Rocket League codes” or asking for your account information to unlock the skin. All of these are scams, and handing over your account details can lead to permanent loss of your Rocket League inventory and account access. I’ve seen dozens of these fake listings pop up on social media every time a new crossover is announced, so it’s always best to only buy items directly from the in-game item shop or trusted official sources.
That said, the lack of official content right now doesn’t mean a Lightning McQueen collab will never happen. Psyonix has a long track record of listening to fan feedback and adding highly requested crossovers years after demand first pops up, so there’s still plenty of reason to hold out hope.
What Disney and Pixar Content Is Available in Rocket League Today?
While there’s no Cars content yet, Psyonix has already partnered with Disney and Pixar for multiple limited-time crossover events in the past, so the groundwork for a Lightning McQueen collab already exists. All of these items were released as limited-time drops, so they’re not available in the item shop on a regular basis, but they do re-run occasionally for special events:
- Mickey Mouse antenna topper and decal, released as part of the Disney 100 celebration event, available for a limited time in the item shop for 300 credits total
- Lightyear crossover bundle, including a Buzz Lightyear-themed Octane decal, antenna topper, and star-themed goal explosion, released alongside the Lightyear film premiere for 1000 credits
- Disney Channel themed player banners and avatar borders, given out as free rewards during a limited-time event aimed at younger and casual players
Trading for limited-time Disney items is only possible if both parties acquired the items before the 2023 trade system update, so if you see someone offering to trade you a Mickey Mouse decal for credits right now, that’s almost certainly a scam too. The Lightyear collab was a particularly big test for Pixar partnerships, and sales data from that bundle will likely play a big role in whether Psyonix decides to move forward with a full Cars franchise collab down the line.
The audience overlap between Rocket League players and Cars fans is massive, too. I’ve seen fan petitions asking for a Lightning McQueen collab that have gathered more than 60,000 signatures, and fan concept art for the skin regularly goes viral on the official Rocket League subreddit, getting tens of thousands of upvotes every time it’s posted.
How to Get Lightning McQueen-Esque Skins for Your Rocket League Car
You don’t have to wait for an official collab to get that iconic red race car look for your main Rocket League vehicle. There are plenty of official in-game items you can combine to make a setup that’s nearly indistinguishable from Lightning McQueen at first glance, and most of these items are cheap and easy to find in the regular item shop rotation.
The closest official skin to Lightning McQueen is the Redline Octane decal, a bright red decal with thin yellow and black accent stripes that almost perfectly matches McQueen’s factory paint job. It usually costs 200 credits when it’s available in the item shop, and it pops up in rotation every couple of months, so you won’t have to wait long to pick it up. Add the number 95 decal to the side and hood of your Octane to match McQueen’s iconic race number, and you’re already most of the way there.
For the rest of the setup, pick up a set of bright yellow Sunburst wheels to match McQueen’s tire rims, and equip the orange flame boost effect to match the fire that comes out of his exhaust. Avoid using any spoilers if you want the most accurate McQueen look, since the character is a stock stock car with no rear wing attached. I’ve used this exact setup for months, and at least half the people I play against in casual lobbies ask if I’m using an official Lightning McQueen skin — it’s that close to the real thing.
If you play Rocket League on PC, you can also find fully custom Lightning McQueen skins made by the modding community, but these only work in private lobbies with other players who have the same mod installed. Never use custom skins in public matchmaking, as this violates Psyonix’s terms of service and can result in a permanent account ban. It’s not worth losing access to all your existing inventory just to use a custom skin in ranked play.
What Are the Chances Lightning McQueen Will Be Added to Rocket League?
There’s no official confirmation of a Lightning McQueen collab yet, but all signs point to it being a very real possibility in the future. Psyonix has already established a working relationship with Disney and Pixar through previous collabs, and the massive fan demand for Cars content makes it a very low-risk, high-reward partnership for both companies.
Psyonix usually lines up crossover collabs to coincide with major franchise milestones, like new film releases, streaming show premieres, or big anniversary events. That means the next big Cars franchise event would be the perfect time for them to announce and release a Lightning McQueen bundle. Psyonix has never explicitly ruled out a Cars collab, which is a good sign for hopeful fans — they usually shut down rumors of collabs that are definitely not happening pretty quickly.
If the collab does get released, we can expect it to follow the same pattern as other major franchise bundles. It will almost certainly be a limited-time item shop drop, priced between 800 and 1200 credits, and will likely include a custom Lightning McQueen car (using the popular Octane hitbox, almost definitely), matching decals for other Cars characters like Mater and Sally, a Radiator Springs themed goal explosion, and a “Kachow” player anthem you can equip to play after you score a goal. Psyonix usually teases new collabs about one to two weeks before their release date, so keep an eye on official Rocket League social media accounts if you want to be the first to know when it drops.
So, while the answer to is Lightning McQueen in Rocket League is no right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t get the same vibe with a custom decal setup, or that he’ll never be added in the future. Save up your credits, keep an eye out for crossover announcements, and don’t fall for any fake code scams in the meantime. I know I’ll be first in line to buy the bundle if it ever drops, and I’ll probably use the McQueen skin for every ranked match for months after — nothing would feel better than scoring a game-winning overtime goal while playing as the most famous race car in movie history.
