Rematch has launched its Season 1 post-launch update and, to celebrate, Sloclap has made the game free to play on Steam for a long weekend, running through September 29. A 20% discount on the game is available on Steam until the same date, which should bring more players into matchmaking.
The Season 1 update is documented on the developer site, adding new cosmetic items, several fresh arenas, and a 3v3 ranked mode. The update also includes a handful of balance changes aimed at reducing some of the more frustrating plays in matches.
Specifically, the Ippy Slide move has been removed, and Sloclap says it “reduced how quickly players can snap to the ball while using extra effort,” which makes volleys slightly weaker. Those changes are intended to rein in what some players felt was uncounterable dribbling.
Ranked 3v3 arrived with Season 1, but there is no option to queue for 3v3 and 5v5 at the same time, which risks splitting the playerbase. A community thread on Reddit highlights concerns that 3v3 can devolve into unfun passing loops when defenders outnumber attacking options in key moments.
Some possible fixes floated by players include making shorter matches, such as first to two or three goals, or slightly shrinking arena sizes to change spacing and decision windows. Those are suggestions, not changes in this update, but they capture why some competitive players are unsure about the new mode.
If juggling new patches and fresh releases feels familiar, that is because the weekend also brings other big games for many players. For those tempted to try Rematch while it is free, now is a good moment to jump back in and see how Season 1 feels with more people in the matchmaking queue.
This update changes how certain high pressure plays work and introduces a ranked format that will matter most to competitive matchmakers and players who prefer shorter teams. Share thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X and Bluesky.
