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Football

College Football 26 And 4 Great Games We Can’t Wait To Play

by admin August 18, 2025

Summer may be drawing to a close, but here on the east coast, we’ve had a few brutally hot days lately to give us one last reminder of the season at its worst. Thankfully we can prioritize staying indoors, hopefully enjoying some air conditioning, and definitely doing plenty of gaming now that we’re officially at the end of the week.

Perhaps you, too, find yourself with a spare 48 hours to kill and a craving for some gaming time well-spent? Well, should that be the case, we have some recommendations for you. Come check them out.

Ovis Loop

Play it on: Windows PCs
Current goal: Defeat the Youngest Botanist

“Dead Cells meets Cult of the Lamb” is the pitch for Ovis Loop, a new pixel art animated action-roguelike that arrived in Early Access on Steam this week. While it doesn’t quite rise to the heights of either of those indie tentpoles, it’s definitely a better-than-expected one-of-those so far. You play a mechanical sheep trying to defend its flock from increasingly difficult cyber-wolf boss fights. The rhythm and balance of upgrades has been enticing so far, and the 2D combat controls tightly enough. But the real star of the show is the beautiful sci-fi art with levels that feel straight out of a post-apocalyptic Mega Man X. I’m excited to play more and see where LIFUEL can take Ovis Loop on its Early Access journey. – Ethan Gach

Off

Play it on: Switch, Windows PC
Current goal: Reach Zone 2

Off is a sort of spiritual precursor to Undertale that was developed by a tiny Belgian team called Unproductive Fun Time in 2008 using RPG Maker. The incredibly unconventional puzzle role-playing game has you take control of a character named The Batter as they try to purify the world by battling the four specters haunting its different zones. There are turn-based battles, esoteric conversations with NPCs, and plenty of weird mysteries to solve.

I never played the original, even after it got a sanctioned fan translation in the early 2010s, but the cult indie classic has returned nearly two decades later with an unlikely remake from the gaming merchandise company Fangamer. Imagine if Salvador Dalí hallucinated an 8-bit Final Fantasy and you can get a sense of what Off brings to the table. Shockingly, the creators had never played Earthbound when making it. Making a Mother-like happened completely by accident. – Ethan Gach

Silent Hill

Play it on: PS3 (Seriously, the digital version is kinda the only way to easily play it right now)
Current goal: Try not to be so terrified 26 years later

I often credit Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid with being the very reason I’m still playing video games. They taught me something valuable about the power of this medium, and it resonated with me throughout countless chapters of my life.

But you know, there was another game around the same time that also left an impression on me, though I don’t think a whole lot about it. Part of that is because I only ever experienced it on a demo disc (remember those?) and even that brief test was enough to scare me out of my god damn childhood mind. Unlike the capable cop protagonists of Resident Evil 2, Silent Hill’s Harry Mason was just an ordinary guy. Being uniquely vulnerable to the freaks that stalk the game’s titular town, the ever-present gray fog, and those dark, empty school hallways…no. Just no. I couldn’t back then.

But now, I think I’m ready. There’s a new Silent Hill around the corner, and this series is one that I never played a whole lot of outside of that demo back in the late ‘90s and Silent Hill 4: The Room on the OG Xbox. It’s time to remedy that, and probably give myself a few nightmares in the process. – Claire Jackson

College Football 26

Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Current goal: Find an online dynasty that’s right for me

In April, I wrote about buying College Football 25 nine months after its release and humbling a much more experienced trash talker. Well, College Football 26 dropped in July, and last night, I was the trash talker who got humbled, meaning I’ll be spending this weekend and many more locking in and trying to improve.

It all started when a homie of mine, Armon, told me about a league he was a part of in College Football 26’s online dynasty mode, a multiplayer feature in the game that allows people to build teams and compete against each other for National Championships. Still a relative rookie and having only played randos in the lawlessness of Road To The CFP, I was shocked at how many rules my friend’s league had.

Cooldowns on offensive and defensive plays, limitations on how many hot routes you can make per play, a three-second wait for when QBs are allowed to scramble out of the pocket, mandatory Twitch or YouTube streams so people can see the plays that you’re calling—to a casual like me, the shit sounded downright draconian.

“I ain’t joining that North Korean dictatorial ass league lmao,” I texted Armon sometime after my record against him improved to 11-2. After beating him so many times, my feeling was that there was no way guys who compete with such restrictions could be any good, and that what was touted as being in the interest of fair play was actually meant to make the game easier for bums who can’t hang with skilled play-callers and ball-knowers—and I have never been more wrong about anything in my video gaming life.

“You’ve disrespected my league,” a guy named Cornell wrote to me on PSN. “You must be dealt with.” Armon arranged a head-to-head match between me and one of the best players in his league. Cornell didn’t take too kindly to my calling his boys a bunch of “hall monitors,” nor did he appreciate my saying they were on Twitch playing “surveillance state ball”—two objectively true and funny statements.

Cornell kicked my ass for those comments, completely disproving my assumption that this gentleman’s agreement league was filled with scrubs running from the grind. He was a better play-caller and ball-knower than I was or will be for quite some time. He bent his league’s own rules—apparently, “scrambling” outside the pocket and immediately “rolling out” 15 yards behind the line toward the furthest bench to work your receivers open are subtly different things, and hot routing half those receivers is fine so long as you’re not hot routing all of them (cool story, bro). But that’s not why he won both games we played. The man reads defenses so well that he scored nearly every time he touched the ball, and he’s so lethal when switch-sticking around his own defense that going TD for TD with him for a little while felt like an accomplishment.

After those games, it’s clear my next accomplishment has to be improving weaknesses that Cornell exposed: learning to read defenses and memorizing which route combos beat them, being unafraid to “user” defenders on the backside of my own defense, not being so reckless with the ball the second I fall behind, and, perhaps most importantly, not being so quick to judge people for the way they prefer to play. – Austin Williams

Is This Seat Taken?

Play it on: Switch, Windows PCs
Current goal: Enjoy this charming puzzler

When I first played the demo for Is This Seat Taken?, a puzzle game about organizing seating for cute little people made out of basic shapes, I was immediately hooked. The game’s charming visuals were a big part of what got my attention, but what kept me around for the whole demo was the puzzles. Turning the process of seat arrangement into a puzzle game is genius!

This person hates smelly things, this person needs to be at the front of the table, this person can’t stand kids, etc. We’ve all dealt with trying to get our family and/or friends seated in a way that makes everyone happy. It’s tricky, and Is This Seat Taken? turns it into a cute puzzle game that I’m excited to finally play all the way through this weekend. – Zack Zwiezen

And that wraps our picks for the end of the week. Happy gaming!

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August 18, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

College Football 26 Dynasty features

by admin June 25, 2025

The Dynasty and Team-Builder Deep Dive for College Football 26 had some interesting moments for the series’ fans to observe.

Most of the features revealed today are also present in College Football 25. However, EA Sports has considered community feedback to fine-tune the changes. Some of them are much more subtle, while others are dramatic, to say the least. At its core is your greater freedom over coaching and building your program.

The core of the Dynasty mode will revolve around three key factors.

Building your coach
Building your program
Enjoy the authentic college football experience.

Let’s take deeper dives into what you can expect from each area.

Here’s what you can do with your coach in the upcoming game.

Create your coach, and customize him as much as you want.
Coach progression has been strengthened, and you can grow your level to 100. Progress will be based on your selected archetypes.
Updates on how Archetypes work include making detailed tweaks to make leveling up more challenging.
Better Coach Carousel and coordinators will have traits that determine their loyalty to your program.
New Trophy Showcase Room.

Most of these features are also available in College Football 25 but have been refined. We will cover the Archetypes in detail in a future article.

Like last year, you’ll have plenty of control over what you want to do with your college program. At its core, you’ll need to master the transfer portal.

The transfer portal will be far more consistent.
A prospective recruit’s star rating will be based on factors such as their overall ratings, position, batch year, and more.
All players have a dealbreaker, which determines your chances of signing them into your program.
Playing time will be a major decision-making factor when recruiting an athlete, and it can even bypass a dealbreaker.
Dealbreakers will have a dynamic system with athletes evolving and changing their expectations. This will make adjusting to their demands harder for you and other teams.
Get additional chances of retaining players based on your Program Builder archetype.
Full control over how the Transfer portal will work.

Recruiting will also involve plenty of other factors. For starters, the prestige of your program will determine how likely you are to recruit an athlete. Your school’s region will also influence recruiting, as some pipelines are strong in one area and weak in the rest.

The full set of changes includes many more details about all the tweaks, so make sure to check it out before diving deep into Dynasty a month from now.

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June 25, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

7 Rematch tips to help you hone your football skills

by admin June 23, 2025

Sloclap’s hotly anticipated football ’em up has finally hit the pitch, and it’s proving to be as nuanced as it is popular. You can queue up for a match only minutes after booting it up for the first time, but after playing a lot of Rematch myself, I highly recommend first getting a sense for its fast pace and slew of keybinds far away from any peeved teammates spamming the ‘Good job!’ emote.

If you’re serious about sharpening your football skills, you should also check out our guide to how Rematch ranks work before you start trying to work your way up through the leagues. Now then: Here are a few tips to chew on for your first few matches and beyond.

Make use of workshops and free play

Rematch kicks off with a very brief prologue that speedily reviews all the controls, and you might confuse that for the whole tutorial. It’s definitely not. There are actually a lot of learning resources tucked in the main menu. On top of a longer, more involved tutorial, there are several workshops—small minigames that give your mechanics a rigorous test—that helped me adjust to the game’s unique control scheme. It’s easy to understand dribbling past a defender in theory, but having to keep the ball away from a few bots in a small arena will ensure you know the timing in a practical setting.

Free play, on the other hand, is a great way to test various sensitivity settings, key binds, and input methods without the chaos of all that footballing. If you haven’t tried out both, it’s worth seeing if you’re more comfortable with a mouse and keyboard or a gamepad.

Misdirection is key to scoring a goal

(Image credit: Sloclap)

It’s a cliché at this point, but Rematch isn’t won by flashy plays from all-star MVPs. When you’re taking a straight shot at the goal, the defender has every advantage: not only do goalies get infinite stamina, they’ll also have plenty of time to react to any but the cheekiest of shots. With that in mind, look for your teammates as you approach the goal. If any of them are open or asking for the ball, it’s often prudent to trust them with the shot. Even if their shot isn’t perfect, getting the drop on the goalie may give them the edge.

To further make defenders’ lives hell, you can use the invisible walls around the field to pass and pressure the goalkeeper. Be sure as well to shape all your shots with the mouse or left stick to give it a misleading arc.

Use the rainbow flick sparingly

(Image credit: Sloclap)

If you aren’t aware, pressing A with the right bumper (or just hitting C on the keyboard) will perform a rainbow flick, sending the ball with your heel into an overhead arch. It’s a tricksy motion that can trip up anyone trying to steal or even delay your shot enough to fool a goalie, but it also leaves your ball highly vulnerable to anyone who sees it coming. Because it trips up new players, it’s easy to lean on it as a crutch; once you become predictable, opponents will be waiting to intercept your ball out of the air.

Any given technique has a counter, so mix it up and keep opponents on their toes. It’s not exactly rock paper scissors, but mind games go a long way in Rematch.

Pass, pass, and pass again

(Image credit: Sloclap)

Whenever your team has possession of the ball, defenders will be trying to control space and steal. The longer the ball is with a single player, the more time your opponents have to close gaps in their defense and block incoming shots. The nimbler your team is with the ball, the harder it will be to anticipate where it’s headed next; and a player will never move on their feet faster than the ball can sail through the air. Think of players more like nodes where the ball can be possessed rather than vehicles to get the ball to the goal all on their own.

Part of this is being ready to receive; it’s a tight timing window, so be ready to hit the “push ball” key to make sure you’ve got a hold of it. When you’re the one passing, don’t forget you can lob the ball overhead or even pass behind you without turning around. It’s usually better to make a safe pass toward your own goal than to risk a turnover.

Communication wins games

(Image credit: Sloclap)

Even if you forego the circus that is voice chat in a competitive online game, there are plenty of ways to talk to your team. The most crucial of these is performed with a click of the right stick (or middle mouse), which will cause you to call out and ask for a pass. So long as you aren’t hammering the button, it’s a great way to let whoever’s got the ball know who’s open. Trying to dribble past a pack of defenders is chaotic and distracting, so a timely ball call can inject some necessary clarity.

If you’re trying to climb to Elite rank, enabling voice chat will probably go a long way in establishing good rapport with your pubs. With that said, the ball call will take you very far in the heat of a match.

(Image credit: Sloclap)

Players in Rematch can jog, sprint, or use an “extra effort” sprint. Regular sprinting drains your stamina, but extra effort uses a smaller, separate resource that’s crucial to keep in mind. It might be tempting to go for it anytime you need to close distance, but it telegraphs the period right after where you’ll be slower than anyone with extra effort readily available.

It also empowers your shots and passes, so don’t be afraid to save it for when you need to mark a wide-open opponent or you’re taking a desperate shot at the goal. Just be wary that when extra effort sprinting with the ball in your possession, you push it farther in front of you than normal, so don’t lose hold of it or let anyone swoop in for a turnover.

Practice in 3v3 and 4v4

(Image credit: Sloclap)

If you want to climb the ranks, you’ll be spending all your time in 5v5. It’s the most intense and elaborate mode, so that tracks; but because there are nine other players, your individual agency in the match is diluted. If you want to improve your passing, scoring, and defense all in a single match, 3s and 4s will shove you into the spotlight more often and give your mechanics a rigorous stress test. Once you’re more confident in your muscle memory, it’ll be easier to focus on tactics and positioning in 5v5.

If you haven’t gotten your cleats dirty yet, you can buy Rematch on Steam.

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June 23, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Scott O’Gallagher brings us the College Football 26 Gameplay Deep Dive!

by admin June 21, 2025

Just like I did with the Madden NFL 26 gameplay deep dive, I won’t be sharing the entire deep dive here, but I will be sharing some of the highlights from the Campus Huddle post and my experiences during the hands-on preview.

DYNAMIC SUBS – NO MORE PAUSING, JUST PLAYINGFor as long as football games have existed, making substitutions meant pausing the game, diving into menus, and breaking the flow of the action. With the addition of Wear and Tear and Confidence and Composure, you told us you wanted more options when it came to moving players in and out. We listened.Introducing Dynamic Subs, a new feature that brings real-time roster management directly onto the field. Now, strategic substitutions can happen seamlessly—without ever leaving the action.

This was a community request for most of last year. Now, you’ll have full control over your team in-game substitutions from a flick of a button. I’ll be excited to see how some of the more competitive players start to use this, especially in the highly competitive game modes.

WEAR AND TEAR – MORE DEPTH, MORE CONTROLWe were thrilled by your response to the Wear and Tear system last year. Introducing a completely new, physics-based damage mechanic is always a bit nerve-wracking, but your enthusiasm showed we hit the mark. Wear and Tear was never meant to be just another injury system—it was designed as a gameplay balance mechanic, bringing real strategic depth and meaningful roster decisions. The foundation was set, now we continue to build on it.

Last year, we were introduced to the Wear and Tear system with the response being pretty good overall. The team at EA Sports taking that and not being complacent with it has me cheering. It’ll be interesting to see how the new updates will impact how we play Road to Glory and Dynasty modes. If you run as a QB every play, will you make it to your senior year? Can you run your duo of running backs into the ground and them make it to the NFL? It’ll be interesting to test the boundaries of the new Wear and Tear tech.

WEATHER THE STORM, WIN THE GAMEThrough conversations with real-world coaches and players, one recurring theme emerged clearly: weather significantly impacts player wear and tear. Reflecting this real-world insight, we’ve integrated weather-based modifiers into the Wear and Tear system.

Just like I mentioned before, the best part of some of these updates will be seeing how it impacts the longer-term game modes. If you have your WR trying to catch passes in the snow and he keeps getting hit over and over, maybe he won’t be able to finish the game. I’m always a fan of dynamic weather, so it’s exciting to see more moving forward. I played a game in the snow during my preview and it was such a blast visually.

Field Vision: Height Finally MattersIn our quest to make pocket passers as valuable as they are in real life, we introduced real-world challenges to level the playing field. This is where Field Vision comes into play. No, there’s no Vision Cone on the field. :)Through conversations with coordinators across the country, one theme kept coming up: the importance of moving the quarterback’s launch point and how interior pressure can impair vision. We took that to heart.Field Vision accounts for your quarterback’s height, the size of offensive and defensive linemen, and their proximity to the pocket. Smaller quarterbacks under center—especially on quick drops or throws between the numbers—will experience realistic visibility limitations. That’s why many real-life QBs favor shotgun or pistol looks. In College Football 26, when shorter QBs are surrounded by taller linemen, receiver icons may fade to reflect obstructed sightlines. You can still attempt those throws—but expect an accuracy penalty, mirroring the real-world challenges these players face.

This has me excited on so many levels. Finally, height will impact the game! If you have a Baker Mayfield, Bryce Young, Johnny Manziel type QB, he may not be able to see over the 6’6″+ linemen all of the time. Meaning he’ll be looking through the holes in the line and moving around and outside the pocket. Meanwhile, a Peyton Manning, Cam Newton, Brock Osweiler type QB may not need as much movement to see the field.

Core Tackling Improvements:This year’s core tackling improvements go beyond just adding new animations—they’re about capturing the emotional core of college football. Whether it’s a critical third-down stop, a game-altering sack, or a tone-setting hit early in the game, these improvements are designed to recreate the chaos, energy, and momentum swings you see every Saturday. We wanted defenses to feel as dynamic and capable as the offenses they’re trying to stop, and that started with building out core tackling in a way that looks better, feels better, and plays more responsively.

I’m always a fan of anything to make playing defense more dynamic and fit the vibe of College Football. The plays like Jadeveon Clowney making a huge hit that stays on a constant cycle on social media should be a big moment in-game, and it seems like this will be a focus for College Football 26.

Block Steering: Take Control of LeverageNew to College Football 26, Block Steering is a foundational trench feature that gives both users and AI the ability to physically influence the direction of a block once an engagement has started.Just like you’d see from interior disruptors like Warren Sapp or Terrell Suggs—defensive linemen who don’t need finesse moves to wreck a game—Block Steering captures the subtle war of leverage and momentum. Sometimes it’s not about winning clean. It’s about squeezing the gap, clogging the lane, and turning a six-yard run into a stalemate at the line.

Again, any reason to make defense more interesting to not only play, but to watch. Giving the top-tier defensive players ways to show their skill and power will be enjoyable to play during games and will lead to new guides in Dynasty for getting players who fit your schemes better than ever before.

There are so many new additions that Scott talks about, make sure you read the full Gameplay Blog here!

Finally, here is the great video done with the iconic voice of Kirk Herbstreit to give us some details and new footage from College Football 26.

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for all your news, reviews, and interviews about College Football 26.

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June 21, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Wisconsin sues Miami for tampering with football transfer

by admin June 20, 2025

Dan MurphyJun 20, 2025, 03:51 PM ET
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- Covers the Big Ten
- Joined ESPN.com in 2014
- Graduate of the University of Notre Dame

The University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit Friday claiming Miami’s football team broke the law by tampering with a Badgers player, a first-of-its-kind legal attempt to enforce the terms of a financial contract between a football player and his school.

The lawsuit refers to the athlete in question as “Student Athlete A,” but details from the complaint line up with the offseason transfer of freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas. Lucas left Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January after saying the Badgers staff refused to enter his name in the transfer portal last December.

In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin claims that a Miami staff member and a prominent alumnus met with Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida and offered him money to transfer shortly after Lucas signed a two-year contract last December. The lawsuit states that Miami committed tortious interference by knowingly compelling a player to break the terms of his deal with the Badgers.

“While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,” the school said in a statement provided to ESPN on Friday.

According to the complaint, Wisconsin decided to file suit in hopes that “during this watershed time for college athletics, this case will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.”

Representatives from the University of Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Editor’s Picks

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The pending case promises to be an interesting test of whether schools can use name, image and likeness (NIL) deals to keep athletes from transferring even though the players aren’t technically employees. Starting July 1, schools will being paying their athletes directly via NIL deals.

The contracts between Wisconsin and their athletes gives the school the non-exclusive rights to use a player’s NIL in promotions. Part of the deal, according to the lawsuit, prohibits an athlete from making any commitments to enroll or play sports at other schools. The lawsuit says Wisconsin had a reasonable expectation that Lucas would “continue to participate as a member of its football program” until the deal ended.

However, according to several contracts between Big Ten schools and their players that ESPN has previously reviewed, these deals explicitly state that athletes are not being paid to play football for the university. Since the school is technically only paying to use the player’s NIL rights, it’s not clear if a judge will consider it fair to enforce a part of the contract that dictates where the player attends school.

The Big Ten said in a statement Friday that it supports Wisconsin’s decision to file the lawsuit and that Miami’s alleged actions “are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework.”

Darren Heitner, a Florida-based attorney who represents Xavier Lucas, told ESPN that Wisconsin did not file any legal claims against Lucas and declined to comment further.

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

College Football 26 Gameplay Deep Dive

by admin June 20, 2025

The first gameplay deep dive for College Football 26 revealed plenty of interesting features and changes in this year’s title.

This is the first instance where EA Sports has discussed some major features in detail. To make matters easier, I have simplified the explanations and reduced the full details available on the official site.

While some of the showcased features are brand new, others have been refined from what was available in College Football 25. Let’s begin by checking out the brand-new substitution features, which include some subtle but fun changes.

Dynamic Subs and better sub control

No longer will you have to pause and make substitutions, as you can roll changes on the fly. Use your D-pad to assess who has to sit on the bench and who should be a starter. Get the changes done effortlessly without having to overthink. That’s not all, as there are some other key areas to focus on.

Manage your Defense and Offense as single units or break them into specialized positions.
Switch back to your starters with the help of a single button.
Use the Wear and Tear indicators to better understand which athletes need time on the bench.
Dynamic overall ratings will help you understand the active effectiveness of a player.

The Dynamic Sub system could become a fan-favorite of College Football 26 community in the upcoming months.

College Football 26 Wear and Tear System explained

Wear and Tear system will be even better than last year. For starters, you’ll get fully customizable Auto-sub settings and sliders, allowing you to make better decisions based on the scenarios.

You can also change the in-game effects of every play associated with the Wear and Tear system.

Normal Tackle Impact
Catch Tackle Impact
Hit Stick Impact
Cut Stick Impact
Defender Tackle Advantage Impact
Sack Impact
Block Impact
Impact Block Impact
Per-Play Recovery
Per-Timeout Recovery
Between Quarter Recovery
Halftime Recovery
In-Game Healing Reserve Pool

You’ll have to pay more attention this year to the Toughness rating of a player and how much damage they’re taking from the tackles (unless you want them to get injured).

Ten new Archetypes have been added to this year’s title, allowing you to enjoy more options. All Archetypes will have their unique skills and playing patterns. Moreover, players will gain substantial physical boosts if they gain Momentum. All Platinum-tier abilities will be upgraded to Heisman tier, which translates into enhanced effects. But players can also downgrade if they’re performing poorly.

Screenshot via EA Sports

The upgraded Wear and Tear mechanic will fit perfectly with every ability tagging into the upper or lower body.

Here are some more of the new and changed features to expect.

45+ new formations and 2800+ new plays
Greater playbook individuality
New motion categories
Expanded runs and smarter route options
Height will be important in Field Vision. Runners blocked by taller defensemen will lose track of balls mid-air, which could result in a turnover if the opponent can capitalize on the chance.
Increased progression system for QBs based on feedback from College Football 25.

We will have a separate explainer on the revamped defensive mechanics that have been handed a major overhaul.

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

I played the challenging new online football game coming to Xbox Game Pass that’s been likened to Rocket League and was immediately transported back to my school’s playground

by admin June 19, 2025

If I had to name the one thing I miss most about my school days (and to be honest, I’m going back a fairly long way here) I’d say it’s the ability to play football every day. I’m sure I could do that now if I really wanted to, but never again will I be in a position to run out onto the playground or field every breaktime and always have enough people for at least some five-a-side. It was glorious. Tennis ball, sopping wet sponge ball, tatty old mini leather ball… we’d have kicked around a bunch of rolled up paper if we had to. Having played Sloclap’s (Sifu, Absolver) Rematch for a few hours it’s already provided the closest I’ve experienced to those classic days of scuffed shoes and grass-stained trousers.

Rematch

Publisher: Sloclap, Kepler Interactive
Developer: Sloclap
Platform: Played on PS5 Pro
Availability: Out 19th June on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.

This kind of five-a-side-style game of football isn’t new to video games, of course. It’s most memorable for me in FIFA 97 (the one with legend David Ginola on the European cover art), although unlike in Rematch the gameplay on the 32-Bit systems of the time is viewed from the side of the pitch, with you essentially possessing whichever player has the ball. In Rematch you control one player who is part of a three-to-five-player team. If you’ve played Be a Pro/Player Career in modern FIFA/EA FC, with the camera hovering behind your player, you’ll know what to expect. The difference here in Rematch is the level of control you have over what you do with the ball and the more arcade feel to the matches.

It’s easy to see why onlookers have somewhat hilariously labeled Rematch as football Rocket League. The visuals (futuristic and neon), the arenas, the slightly closed-off feeling as you can’t easily see what’s around you, it all has that Rocket League sauce. But ball control, as you might expect from an actual football game, is very different. Passing is angled to where you point with the left stick (when playing with a controller), shooting is precision-targeted to where the camera is pointed as if you are playing a third-person shooter, strength and loft can be decided, and you have some finer close-control that simply isn’t possible when hitting an oversize ball with a car. This is the closest a game has come to mimicking the feel of playing football, and I’m loving it.

Here’s a trailer for Rematch.Watch on YouTube

I’ve mostly played 3v3 matches so far, although you can also choose 4v4 and 5v5. Despite a tutorial that runs you through the basics, nothing prepares you for the intensity of an actual match where you’ll likely fumble under the pressure that simply isn’t felt during the training. 3v3, if anything, at least means I am letting fewer people down, so I’m sticking to this mode for the time being. There’s a fairly steep learning curve to battle through in Rematch, and the added stress of having more people wanting the ball or trying to dispossess you of the ball isn’t conducive to learning.

You’re always playing with and against other humans online in Rematch, whether it’s a bunch of friends who you regularly party up with or a group of randoms, and thus the school playground feeling is thrust front and centre. There are none of the deeper rules in Rematch (so no offside, no fouls, no handball), just a requirement to score more goals than the opposing team. There’s also no set goalkeeper (oh, hello core school memory that has just come rushing back), so you can be diving to save a shot one second and charging up the pitch the next as you attempt to score yourself.

Rematch. | Image credit: Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

This free, casual feel in a fiercely fought online game inevitably, at least in these early days, leads to chaos. The positionally-decided goalie is reminiscent of “rush keepers” from school, wherein anyone could be in goal, but it could only be one person at a time. If there’s a defining characteristic of school kids or people who play competitive games online, though, it’s an eagerness to show off. That goalie who ended up on the half-way line (honestly, there were some right liabilities for this at my school) is often dispossessed while trying to flick the ball over their head, leaving an open goal for all but the most spherically incompetent.

Let’s not pretend I’m innocent in all of this, either. Everyone, I assume, sees the spotlight focus on them at crucial moments, thinking for that split-second that you are in fact Romario and not actually a slightly chubby 11-year-old. Or, in Rematch’s case today, Harry Kane and not actually 42 – the chubbiness remains. Over time I’m sure this ball-hogging and headline grabbing will make way for more finessed play, and the signs are promising. I’ve already mildly thrown a fist or two into the air after a peak-Barcelona move ended in a goal to win a game in the dying moments. With two teams battling hard, not making mistakes, these sequences of play will be even more jubilant.

Rematch. | Image credit: Sloclap/Kepler Interactive

Concerns at this stage are mostly to do with goalkeeping. Not so much the way players leave the goals exposed, which is part of the game, but the act of saving itself. I’ve got to grips with the fundamentals of passing and shooting so that I’m not a complete embarrassment, but I still find myself diving in comical fashion as my hands flail nowhere near the ball, with replays confirming I was beaten by shots even the previously lambasted school children could have saved. I’m going to hit the training modes some more to see if I can become more competent.

There’s also the longevity to consider. Sloclap has promised new content in each season, but this is impossible to judge at this point, as is the general hook of leveling up your rank. An online-centric game like this also needs a healthy player base, which is far from a given. Rocket League, if you remember, launched into PlayStation Plus back when it was a premium paid-for offering. This helped establish a community. Rematch is part of Game Pass, but the early going will need to be smooth for those initially interested players to stick around.

I’ve tried at various points to get into Rocket League. I understand its popularity, but I never quite gelled with it. Rematch is an easier sell. I understand it and can intuitively play it, while there still being a clear path to improvement. Whether or not I’ll still be playing in a month or six months, who knows, but for now I’ve got my evening gaming sessions sorted. It feels good to be back, knocking a ball about – and this time not having to worry about smashing Class 3B’s window.

A copy of Rematch on PS5 was provided by the publisher.

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June 19, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Vive le Bitcoin! French Football Giant Embraces BTC as Treasury Reserve

by admin May 31, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Paris Saint-Germain has added Bitcoin to its financial reserves, making it the first top-tier football club to do so. According to reports at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, the Paris side converted part of its cash holdings into BTC last year and still holds it on the balance sheet. The move marks a shift from issuing one-off fan tokens or NFTs to actually owning crypto as an asset.

PSG Joins Corporate Bitcoin Holders

Based on reports, PSG Labs lead Pär Helgosson told the conference crowd, “We put Bitcoin in our books, and we still have it.” He made the announcement at the Las Vegas event.

The club’s move follows firms such as Strategy, GameStop, US President Donald Trump Media and Twenty-One Capital, all of which added large amounts of BTC to their treasuries to guard against inflation.

🇫🇷 ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOTBALL TEAMS PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN JUST ANNOUNCED THEY BOUGHT #BITCOIN

WILD TIMES!!! pic.twitter.com/s21kBOJrbz

— Vivek⚡️ (@Vivek4real_) May 29, 2025

Fan Base And Financial Identity

Paris Saint-Germain has over 550 million fans around the world. About 80% of those supporters are under 34. For that group, Bitcoin can feel like a part of daily life.

PSG sees its crypto holding as a way to stay in tune with its younger supporters. The club now calls itself a lifestyle brand as much as a football team.

Image: HD Wallpapers

JUST IN: European soccer giant Paris Saint Germain announces they adopted a #Bitcoin treasury reserve 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/nGeq7bUyBJ

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 29, 2025

PSG Labs And Startup Mentorship

PSG Labs, launched in 2023, is the special unit that tests ideas in blockchain, virtual reality, and tokenized fan experiences. Now it will back early-stage crypto startups, helping founders launch products, list tokens and raise money.

Helgosson said the club aims to “launch with you, list with you, raise with you,” using its half-billion-strong fan network and its ties to big sponsors and star players.

BTC is currently trading at $105,982. Chart: TradingView

Accounting And Regulatory Challenges

Holding Bitcoin on the balance sheet raises questions. Under IFRS rules, crypto assets are often classed as intangible and carried at cost, so gains may not show up right away. Fluctuations of 10% in a day are common for the top digital currency.

PSG will need to manage those swings and explain them to regulators, especially under football’s financial-fair-play rules. Different countries may treat these BTC holdings in varied ways—from tax breaks to extra scrutiny.

PSG’s decision shows a new path for sports clubs. By moving beyond simple fan tokens, the club is treating crypto as part of its core finances. There are risks, but also a chance for deeper ties to tech-savvy fans.

If PSG can keep its Bitcoin—and its fans—happy, other clubs may follow suit.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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May 31, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

EA Reveals College Football 26 Gameplay Additions And Improvements Alongside First Trailer

by admin May 30, 2025

EA Sports College Football 26 steps onto the gridiron on July 10, and EA has shared the first gameplay details after revealing the cover athletes yesterday. Players can expect over 2,700 new plays, a fresh roster of collegiate players and coaches, and other tweaks to last year’s modes and features.

This year’s edition features 300 real-world coaches, including Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, and James Franklin. Player types and abilities have been expanded with 84 total abilities and 10 new archetypes. Player fatigue and injuries can be managed without pausing the action and customized to fit your playstyle. Enhanced AI, dynamic play-calling adjustments, and improved blocking and coverages bolster the core gameplay.

In terms of presentation and immersion, College Football 26 features a revamped Stadium Pulse system that introduces new crowd challenges such as clock distortion, extreme screen shake, and rattled HUDs in rivalry and playoff games. Players will hear over 160 new school-specific chants, 10 new PA tracks (including Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”), and well-known visuals like Texas Tech’s Double T Saddle Monument and Coastal Carolina’s King of Turnovers. The commentary team includes Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack.

This year’s Dynasty mode features expanded College Football Playoffs with cross-play support for Online Dynasty. New Dynamic Dealbreakers allow you to avoid player transfers, and you can upload your program using advanced Team Builder customization tools. Road to Glory, which lets you guide a high school student from rookie prospect to Heisman winner, returns, and you can continue your player’s journey in Madden NFL 26. Road to the College Football Playoff features a new online progression format to ensure every win matters.

EA Sports College Football launches on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can read our review of last year’s game here.

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May 30, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

EA Sports College Football 26 Cover Athletes And Release Date Revealed

by admin May 28, 2025

The cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26 have been revealed. Gracing the game’s Standard Edition cover this year are Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Meanwhile, the Deluxe Edition features a who’s who of past and present coaches, mascots, and athletes. It includes top coaches Ryan Day (Ohio State), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), and Kirby Smart (Georgia). The cover also showcases current players such as Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and Penn State running back Nick Singleton. Lastly, you can spot former cover stars from previous college football titles such as Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, and Denard Robinson. Check out each cover in the gallery below.

Fans can now pre-order the Standard Edition, which consists of only the base game, for $69.99. The Deluxe Edition runs for $99.99 and includes the following extras:

3 Day Early Access
4600 College Ultimate Team Points
Early Access Solo Challenges
College Ultimate Team All Hands Pack (Choice of 1 out of 2 items)
Dynasty Coach Points
Road to Glory Skill Points

You can also pre-order the EA Sports MVP Bundle, which packages EA Sports College Football 26 with Madden NFL 26, for $149.99. Among other things, this version includes the following:

3 Day Early Access for Madden (Aug 11th – Aug 14th)
Early Access Challenges
4600 Madden Points
Season 1 Elite Item
Cover Athlete Elite Item
Super Star XP Boost
College Football 26 Deluxe Edition
3 Day Early Access for College Football (July 7th – July 10th)
4600 CUT points
Bundle Exclusive CUT Item
Early Access Solo Challenges
CUT Top Prospect Pack (choice of 1 player item from select list of player items)

As for gameplay, EA plans to reveal more details about College Football 26 beginning Thursday, May 29, and over the coming weeks until the game’s launch on July 10.

EA Sports College Football 26 will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can read our review of last year’s game here.

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May 28, 2025 0 comments