If you've hopped into a Rocket League lobby in the last few years, you've probably noticed way more new players than you did in the mid 2010s, and lots of people asking when did Rocket League become free. The game went from a niche paid multiplayer hit to one of the most widely played cross-platform sports games around, and its free-to-play switch changed almost everything about how players access, customize, and compete in the high-octane soccer-with-cars universe. I’ve been playing Rocket League since its 2015 launch, so I remember exactly how chaotic the switch was for long-time players, and how many new faces popped up overnight once the paywall came down.
When Did Rocket League Become Free, And What Led To The Switch?
Rocket League officially launched as a free-to-play game on September 23, 2020, following Epic Games’ acquisition of developer Psyonix earlier that same year. Before that date, the game cost $19.99 across all platforms, and had built a loyal but relatively small player base of around 40 million registered users in its first five years of availability. The move to free-to-play was designed to expand that audience, unify cross-platform play, and align the game with Epic’s broader live-service model for popular multiplayer titles.
I remember seeing the initial announcement in summer 2020 and being worried the game would get overrun with unbalanced pay-to-win mechanics or toxic new players, but most of those fears never came true. the free-to-play launch aligned with the start of Rocket League Season 1, which reset the competitive ranking cycle and gave both new and returning players a level playing field to climb the ranks alongside the influx of new users. By the end of 2020, less than three months after the switch, the game had hit 75 million registered players.
What Changed When Rocket League Went Free-To-Play?
The free-to-play switch brought dozens of small and large changes to the game, many of which are still core to how Rocket League works today. The most obvious shift for existing players was the removal of the game from the Steam store for new PC buyers, with new PC downloads now routed exclusively through the Epic Games Store. Players who already owned the game on Steam got to keep their copy, and still receive all regular updates and cross-play support to this day.
Other key changes rolled out across all platforms to support the free-to-play model include:
Cross-platform parties also got a major upgrade with the F2P switch, so you could team up with friends no matter what console they used without weird workarounds or third-party apps. Onboarding for new players also got a full overhaul, with a more detailed tutorial, beginner-focused training packs, and guided challenges that help new users learn core mechanics like aerials and dribbling before they jump into competitive lobbies. There are no pay-to-win mechanics in the free version of Rocket League, every car has the same hitbox and performance stats, all paid items are 100% cosmetic so no player gets an unfair advantage by spending money.
Exclusive Perks For Players Who Bought Rocket League Before It Went Free
Psyonix wanted to reward long-time players who supported the game before the free-to-play switch, so they rolled out a slate of exclusive Legacy Rewards for anyone who owned a paid copy of Rocket League before September 23, 2020. These rewards are permanently tied to your account, and can't be traded or purchased by players who joined after the F2P launch. I still get questions about my legacy items in lobbies every few weeks, so they're still a fun way to show you've been around for a while.
The core legacy rewards include a special Legacy Status badge that shows up on your player profile, all pre-2020 DLC packs for free including Supersonic Fury, Revenge of the Battle-Cars, and Chaos Run, exclusive customization items like the Golden Cosmos boost, Dieci-Oro wheels, and Huntress player banner, plus 200 free credits to spend in the in-game item shop. If you played the game before 2016, you also got an extra "Est. 20XX" title that shows the exact year you first joined the game.
Legacy Status is permanently tied to your linked Epic Games account, so even if you switch platforms from PC to console or vice versa years later, you'll still keep all your legacy rewards, existing items, and rank progression. You don't have to do anything extra to claim these rewards if you're eligible, they were automatically added to all eligible accounts shortly after the free-to-play launch.
Is It Worth Playing Rocket League For Free Today?
If you've never played Rocket League before, it's absolutely worth downloading for free in 2024, no question. The entire core game is available for no cost, including all casual and competitive game modes, custom lobbies, training packs, and cross-platform play with friends on any system. You can easily sink hundreds of hours into the game without spending a single dollar, and the skill ceiling is high enough that you'll still be learning new mechanics years after you start playing.
There are a few small caveats for new free players to keep in mind, though. You won't be able to trade items with other players until you've purchased at least 500 credits once, a rule put in place to cut down on bot accounts and item scamming. You also won't get access to premium Rocket Pass rewards unless you pay the 1000 credit entry fee each season, but the free tier of the Rocket Pass still gives out plenty of customization items for casual players. You can unlock almost every common customization item just by playing weekly challenges for free, so you don't have to spend a dime to make your car look unique.
The only real downside for new players right now is that the skill gap between new and veteran players is pretty wide, so you might get crushed in your first few dozen matches. But the ranking system adjusts very quickly after your first 10 placement matches, and you'll be matched with players around your skill level before you know it. If you're nervous about competitive play, there are tons of casual game modes like rumble and hoops that are way more relaxed and perfect for learning the basics without pressure.
If you've been curious about when did Rocket League become free, the short answer is September 2020, and the switch turned a beloved small-scale multiplayer game into a global phenomenon with more than 100 million registered players to date. Whether you're a long-time legacy player or someone thinking of downloading it for the first time, there's never been a better time to jump into a match. The no-pay-to-win model, cross-platform play, and constant updates with new modes and items keep the game feeling fresh years after the free-to-play switch. If you do decide to download it, don't skip the basic training packs first – they'll save you from a lot of embarrassing own goals in your first few lobbies.
