In a recent interview, the executive producer of Rematch made a surprising revelation: despite the gaming industry's heavy reliance on free-to-play models for competitive online games, the team behind this breakout soccer title never considered adopting this approach. Instead, their focus remained squarely on creating "a very good game." This philosophy has paid off, as Rematch continues to captivate players since its June 19 release, offering a fresh take on soccer gameplay that challenges conventional wisdom.

Developed by Sloclap, the studio behind the acclaimed roguelike Sifu, Rematch delivers a fast-paced soccer experience with a twist. Players control individual athletes who can switch between attacking, defending, and even goalkeeping roles. The game strips away traditional soccer elements like fouls, offsides, and throw-ins, creating continuous, high-octane matches played in walled arenas that keep the action flowing. This unique approach, combined with physics reminiscent of Sifu, has resulted in a sports game that feels entirely new.

Pierre Tarno, the game's executive producer, explained his unconventional stance in an interview with PC Gamer. While acknowledging the industry belief that competitive games must be free-to-play to succeed, Tarno remained committed to Sloclap's vision of creating a premium experience. "I don't believe in formulas or secrets to making a successful game," Tarno stated. "Just one principle: make a very good game."

This philosophy appears to be working remarkably well. Rematch achieved over 1 million players within 24 hours of its Xbox Game Pass release and has maintained strong numbers on Steam, peaking at nearly 93,000 concurrent players. The game's success suggests that quality gameplay can overcome industry expectations about monetization models.