If you’ve recently searched the Steam store looking to download Rocket League for the first time, you might have been left confused when you can’t find the official listing. It’s one of the most common questions new and returning players ask: is Rocket League not on Steam anymore? The short answer is it’s no longer available for new purchase on Steam, but there are still plenty of ways to play the game on PC, and existing owners don’t have to make any changes to keep playing. I’ve been playing Rocket League since its 2015 launch, and I walked through the launcher switch with dozens of my clan mates when the change happened, so I’m breaking down everything you need to know.
Why Is Rocket League Not on Steam Anymore?
Back in 2019, Epic Games acquired Rocket League developer Psyonix, and the move laid the groundwork for the game to shift to the Epic Games Store as its primary PC home. When the game went free-to-play in September 2020, Psyonix removed the new purchase listing from Steam entirely, directing all new PC players to the Epic Games Store instead. Existing Steam owners never lost access to their game, DLC, or in-game progress, and they still receive all regular updates, bug fixes, and new content drops at the same time as Epic players. A lot of players assumed the shift would split the player base, but that never happened, since crossplay was enabled across all launchers and platforms from day one of the free-to-play switch.
How You Can Play Rocket League on PC If You Don’t Own It on Steam
You don’t need an old Steam copy of Rocket League to play the game on PC for free. There are three main legitimate ways to access the game right now, no workarounds required:
- Download it for free directly from the Epic Games Store (the official PC home for new copies of the game, with full access to all game modes, crossplay, and in-game content)
- Claim a third-party key from authorized retailers, though these are rare and often overpriced for base game access, since the base game is free on Epic
- Use cloud gaming services that support Rocket League, no local download required, as long as you have a stable internet connection
The only legitimate free way to get Rocket League on PC right now is through the Epic Games Store, and it takes less than five minutes to set up an account and install the game if you don’t already have the Epic launcher. Avoid unauthorized key resellers, as many of these keys are revoked after purchase, and you’ll lose access to the game without a refund. I’ve seen dozens of players get scammed buying cheap “Steam Rocket League keys” from random sites, so it’s just not worth the risk when the game is free officially.
Key Differences Between Steam and Epic Versions of Rocket League
If you’re used to playing on Steam and are worried about switching to Epic, you’ll be happy to hear that the core game experience is identical across both launchers. All game modes, ranked seasons, in-game events, and cosmetic items work exactly the same, no matter which launcher you use. You can also link your Psyonix account to both launchers, so you can switch between them whenever you want without losing any progress. Crossplay between Steam and Epic Rocket League players is fully enabled, with no restrictions on matchmaking or party play. The only real differences are launcher-specific features: the Steam version has access to Steam achievements, the Steam overlay, and Steam friends list integration, while the Epic version lets you earn Epic Rewards points for in-game purchases and links directly to your other Epic Games library titles.
Troubleshooting Tips for Rocket League on PC, No Matter Your Launcher
Whether you’re playing on Steam or Epic, you might run into small issues from time to time, most of which are easy to fix with a few quick steps. If your game won’t launch, the first thing you should do is verify your game files through your launcher, which will replace any corrupted or missing files that are causing the crash. If you’re switching from the Steam version to the Epic version, make sure you link your Psyonix account before you launch the game for the first time on Epic to carry over all your skins, ranks, and progress. Always link your primary Psyonix account to all launchers you use to avoid losing progress or purchased content. If you can’t join a party with friends on other platforms, double check that your crossplay setting is toggled on in the game’s settings menu, as it sometimes gets turned off after major game updates. For small performance drops after an update, try lowering your graphics settings temporarily, as new content drops can occasionally cause small performance issues that get patched in follow-up hotfixes.
At the end of the day, if you were asking is Rocket League not on Steam for new purchases, the answer is yes, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing one of the best free-to-play competitive games on PC. The launcher switch happened years ago, and most players don’t even notice a difference after the first five minutes of setup, especially if you play with friends across multiple platforms anyway. I switched to the Epic version last year when I built a new PC, and I haven’t run into any issues that made me regret leaving the Steam version behind. All my ranks, rare skins, and friend list carried over seamlessly, and I still queue for ranked matches with my Steam-using friends every weekend without a hitch.
