Update: The leak was real, then. Ubisoft revealed Roller Champions during its E3 press conference, alongside the trailer shown above. A demo is available on PC right now, but console platforms are yet to be revealed. The game will be free-to-play, which suggests that micro transactions are going to form part of the experience. The full game is expected in 2020.
Our pals over at Eurogamer have played it, so head over there for some impressions as well as comments from Ubisoft on the project.
Original Story: A new Ubisoft IP appears to have been leaked ahead of its E3 2019 reveal. It's called "Roller Champions" and is based on the sport, roller derby. The game has seemingly been confirmed for the Switch, after assets for the Nintendo controller layout were reportedly discovered alongside the following image of an Xbox controller:
This information comes from a private test which was supposedly conducted earlier this month. Other assets reveal an E3 logo, suggesting a more official announcement is on the way, and there are also screens of the game along with some early loading screen footage.
According to one of the sources, the game runs on Unity, will include quick play matches, ranked matches, custom matches, tournaments and is online only. There are a bunch of sound options as well - including a streamer mode - and the gameplay options menu includes two different aiming modes.
What do you make of this? Would you like to see this released on the Switch? Leave a comment down below.
[source nintendosoup.com, via spieltimes.com, twitter.com]
Comments 89
I might go media black out till after E3 now. No doubt more leaks will come. Thankfully this one doesn't appeal but taking no chances. See you all for the Nintendo stream. Till then take care all.
Is it just me or is that not a Nintendo controller? The a and b buttons are inverted. Am I missing something?
@kepsux That's because it's an Xbox One controller.
@Beermonkey it’s hardly the latest marvel movie and can some how ruin something... e3 in itself is surely spoilers for upcoming games.... I think games these days are ruined before they are in hand as so much info comes out... I’ll take info as and when it comes now as often e3 and directs and all that are just a massive disappointment
@kepsux its an Xbox One controller not a Switch one. Author must not speculate a switch version on the basis of an Xbox One controller layout.
@NxBrew
It says
“assets for the Nintendo controller layout were reportedly discovered alongside the following image of an Xbox controller:”
@Beermonkey
It does ruin the pleasure of it !
@Beermonkey hehehe made you come back.
Seriously though, take care!
Whatever system it's for, I'll bet we'll have a zany 15 minute live action interlude of people on rollerskates in Ubisoft's presentation.
Yay.
@MrGawain yeah.... it’s why people that make such a big deal about e3 make me laugh.... usually we see footage that bares no resemblance of full game. It’s all hype and guess work as most the stuff they discuss is actually miles off being finished...
In the last few years leaks have been far more informative and closer to the truth than PR spin of events and directs
Is this from Alita? If it is, I will buy it hehe
This does look like it might be pretty good if it's done right.
Fortnite X Rollerball.
@GrailUK That's what I immediately thought. I roller derby game could be fun... it still has some ways to go to convince me. But I hope it doesn't borrow more than the visual style from Fortnite. I think publishers are putting too much focus on acquiring skins, gear, etc to the point the core game play seems like an afterthought.
Can I make a request that when it comes to covering leaks and rumours regarding E3, you don't spoil it in the title of the article or the thumbnail? It takes a lot of the excitement out of it for me when the internet reveals about three quarters of E3 before it even starts and it's difficult to ignore if the spoiler is in the title of the article.
Zero interest
If this is a F2P game, I will certainly give it a shot, it's a fun concept.
@StormtheFrontier After reading your comment I have decided to remove the name of the game from the title.
It looks like a remake of Activision's Hyperblade
Does look boring - hoping I'm wrong
@electrolite77 That feeling when people are cherry picking quotes from an article, instead of actually reading it and understanding what it says...
All in the name of "let's rush to the comments section and make an immortally stupid comment"...
Kinda reminds me of Death Throw on Xbox.
“Looks boring” literally no info to base that on....
We have one menu shot and that’s about it. I hope it has single player elements, tournaments and career and not just another f2p multiplayer only thing - I know it states multiplayer only but it’s not confirmed
E m o t e s - oh no... (No I can't think of anything else to say)
I guess if you're looking to build a cornerstone sports franchise as a gaming company most stuff's locked up tight already. Roller Derby's having a popular moment, though roller hockey is probably an easier gameplay mechanic.
As for the spoilers before E3 and all of that. I enjoy letting the creators of a game that are working incredibly hard on it, while keeping it a secret, control the way it is revealed to the public. There is more genuine excitement and the type of reaction that comes from a shared moment and a larger audience. When there are leaks it is only to the type of people that scour the internet for game news which is frankly not representative of most gamers (at all) and is a mix of enthusiasts, the hypercritical, and the type that is antagonistic to the "other" platforms.
There is no way this team isn't very disappointed that their game was revealed like this. One promotional art piece, a title screen, and a controller layout. No chance to point out the key features or what makes it stand out before people start forming opinions (one person here already declared it as boring, for instance).
It helps that Nintendo tends to lean towards showing gameplay and sometimes going behind the scenes, especially with the Treehouse follow up. I understand the cynicism towards publishers/studios that try to sell what they are aiming for and hoping for as a realistic expectation for the final game (without framing it as such).
@Liam_Doolan That's thoughtful and could be a great policy in general.
Poor Ubisoft. Every single time. Around E3 they always get their games leaking
@NxBrew it helps to read the article!
@kepsux Yes, you are missing something.
@Liam_Doolan
Could we so remove the image and make it a new one?
Like this one is fine but other leaks, let's say a new Nintendo IP or other ones that may come, I don't want to see anything on it, just show the company logo or something and say like "new leaked game " similar to how this one is titled.
Ubilost
Quick. Make something cutesy and free to play with lots of skins to sell!
Hmmm. How about rollerblading mixed with rocket league and fortnite?
And these idiot companies wonder why legislation is looming to combat their business models that prey on people.
Games like this exist to fleece kids and latch onto fortnite market share. No one talented or with any creative passion came up with this. It's the result of analytics and focus groups.
That art style isn't a coincidence and neither are the elements they stole from popular games in the same vain.
A.I. could be generating "games" like this in the near future simply by parsing trends from social media of teenagers. Scary.
I'm so fed up with this schonky art style
This actually sounds kind of fun from what limited info is available.
I don’t know what it is about modern game releases but they just bore me to tears. I’ve resorted to only playing classic games or Nintendo games exclusively for some time now as all the so called AAA publishers keep pumping out the same product again and again. Samey 1st person online shooter, samey racing game #50, another sport title, non stop DLC packs and insert credit card over and over mechanics, it’s all so snore inducing. You have to look to indi Devs or smaller studios if you want something fresh. The main reason I still play Nintendo games again and again is because they don’t take themselves too serious and are all about the player having fun. Plus games like Zelda are often reinventing themselves each iteration.
More generic looking crap.
You know UBI, welcome to just include the Switch on the top AAA games you already have that are not 8 years old 🙄
@Agramonte Are we looking at the same game?
depends on the price... could be cool.
@Dilated You clearly haven't played many games recently.
Its the Wii all over again.
@Entrr_username
Nah, I’m 36 years old have several friends in the same age bracket who are feeling the same way. It could be that I’m simply aging out of the hobby. But everything looks the same anymore with only small variation, kinda like modern mumble rap. There’s always a die hard crowd who will follow that garbage and defend it, but that doesn’t change anything, it’s still samey mumble rap.
@Entrr_username I am assuming we are. The menu page with the character design and the fly-by.
They are not going to make UNITY look like that concept art on top.
I like how Ubisoft continues to try out new IP’s, but this one is a bit underwhelming. Oh well, here’s hoping for a Mario + Rabbids sequel.
Sounds fun. Have to see how it plays.
@Agramonte What bothers you about the game?
nah that can't be an Ubisoft game because it's not a bland open world or an Assassin's Creed
Looks like a game no one asked for..
@Ttimer5 @liam_doolan I don’t think that’s far enough... can we have just a title of “possible leak e3” as standard title for all e3 leak articles - it won’t get confusing honest - No pic. Then inside a link to another article( in case some clicks by mistake) and then a password protected document on that link that people have to email Nintendo life to get access so no accidental spoilers take place....
That or just carry on as 90% of gaming news all year round is unconfirmed and isn’t really a spoiler anyway....
@Stocksy
Dude! That's actually what they should do, and make sure a few ads pop up so that it'll seem even more fake l.
No, I was thinking like if let's say Diddy Kong racing was leaked or something (just spit balling here), I don't want the picture to be of Diddy Kong and say "a new racing game was leaked"......
Ya know I read the titles and see the pictures, so I can be spoiler free.
I already am avoiding Reddit and very cautious on YouTube. I love the excitement of not knowing what's to come.
I was hoping it would be from Alita. That scene from the movie was amazing and I thought at the time, that would make a good game.
@Ttimer5 don’t tease me with diddy kong racing!
Yeah fair enough: I’m yanking your chain - in this day and age though spoilers are just a thing unfortunately
@-Green- Ubisoft has like 10,000 people across the globe working on any one project, plus outsourced teams. It'd be more surprising if nothing leaked from them.
@Liam_Doolan If not asking too much, could you also not put leaked pictures of the games in the thumbnail as well? I`m sure an image of the developer would be just fine. Thanks a bunch!
So... it's an online-focused sports game with Fortnite-esque hipster characters?
I'll be referring to this one as... Sportnite.
@AlternateButtons @th4rtung @AlternateButtons @electrolite77 the article was 100% edited from when it was originally posted and I responded. They added the word "Xbox" and it was originally phrased to infer the controller was a Nintendo controller.
Doesn't look like my kind of game. But some people will enjoy it, I am certain.
@Not_Soos Not sure what makes those characters hipsters.
@Indielink The dude in the teal jacket on the right of the first image, for instance, is dressed like he's spun a few fidget spinners and dabbed to some water bottle flips in his time. Does that count?
@kepsux To clarify, I did indeed add the word "Xbox" after reading your comment. My apologies if you were confused by this sentence originally.
@MattFox I've changed the image on the front page to the Ubisoft logo. Hopefully, it's clear now there are spoilers inside this post.
eh, could be fun. i'll just have to wait and see it's reveal.
Jet Set Radio: Battle Royale
@Not_Soos No he looks like he belongs in some kind of 80's retro-future styled movie.
@Liam_Doolan The fact that you changed this post so many times speaks volumes about how much you actually care about us readers. Thank you so much. I hope other writers would do the same. Hope you have a wonderful week!
No thanks. Looks dumb.
Would like to see some gameplay of this.
Here's hoping for a sequel to Mario & Rabbids, which was a huge and pleasant surprise during the Switch's first year. And since Nintendo/Square haven't done the honors since the SNES, why not a full-on, SRPG sequel to Super Mario RPG which explores other Nintendo worlds and characters, such as Legend of Zelda (Hyrule/Link), Metroid (Zeebes/Samus), Fire Emblem (Tellius/Ike), Pokémon (Kanto/Ash), StarFox (Corneria, Fox McCloud), etc.). The sheer potential of bringing so many Nintendo IPs together in a franchise not named Smash Bros. or Mario Kart would require both incredible ambition as well as passion for the source material, but fortunately the team who worked on the original Mario & Rabbids meet the requirements.
Sure it's a pipe dream that'll probably never happen, but that's what makes the weeks leading up to E3 special for gamers. The very best games each year are often the surprises nobody saw coming.
@AtlanteanMan
"why not a full-on, SRPG sequel to Super Mario RPG which explores other Nintendo worlds and characters, such as Legend of Zelda (Hyrule/Link), Metroid (Zeebes/Samus), Fire Emblem (Tellius/Ike), Pokémon (Kanto/Ash), StarFox (Corneria, Fox McCloud), etc.)"
Sounds like Kingdom Hearts with Nintendo characters, minus the convoluted story...
It could work.
"and is based on the sport, roller derby."
Hard pass.
@Beermonkey believe me when I say: it's not that serious, bro.
You'll be ok.
And we're in the "don't spoil the ads" season again.
@Galarian_Lassie Nintendo Life don't even know what a Nintendo controller looks like XD
The Xbox controller image has a really weird shape...
I've read the article a couple of times now and I must be missing something... Either that or some people are making some serious assumptions based on... Nothing? Happy to be proven wrong and pointed in the direction of information regarding this being f2p, having micro transactions, skins and the Illuminati attempting to control the population through less than savoury gaming business practices.
Not saying that this game won't end up like that but we don't currently have the information to back any of the evil assertions up as yet
Roller derby seems like a sport that could translate into a fun game if done well. Will keep an eye on this.
If it's online only, as the last paragraph suggests, not interested. If I have the options of solo campaign, couch co-op, couch competitive... I'm intrigued.
I would have thought that the best policy for anyone wishing to avoid all spoilers before E3 conferences would be to avoid browsing any unofficial Nintendo news sites.
If you stick to the Official Nintendo site and maybe have a look at the official sites for Square, Ubisoft, EA (haha) etc. then you will get all of the reveals without any chance of spoilers.
Was that all Ubi had for the Switch?
It looks okay. Strangely got a fortnite vibe from this. Maybe it's the characters.
Anyway, I am way more excited for Gods and Monsters then this.
@tourjeff
Gods and Monsters
Just Dance
Adventure Time DLC for Brawlhalla
Keep in mind that Roller Champions isn't confirmed to be on Switch (or any console for that matter) yet
@MajinSoul @Rafke
I bit disappointing in my opinion. I can see they are bringing a lot of new games and content for their current games so I suppose they are really busy.
However, I was expecting a bit more from them...
Definitely looks like they took a rocket league arena and plonked some roller derby fortnite characters into it. Im addicted to rocket league so maybe just maybe this could work for me. But not convinced until we know how it plays. The beauty of rocket league is the skill ceiling is sky high. This is probably a shameless style over gameplay cash-in generated by some think tank that don’t actually play games.
I feel like this should have had Sonic characters for some reason.
I really liked the idea of this game. I hope it's playable without microtransacrions.
I for one am really hoping this comes to Switch. Such a cool idea for a game that has me wondering why we haven’t had a roller derby game yet.
Hoping this goes to Switch as it looks interesting.
If you think this is fun, your standards for what makes a good game are especially low. It looks dull, un-skilled and boring as hell.
I'll have to wait and see on this one. Looks promising.
Looks cool... But I hope that awful commentary isn't in the full game.
@tourjeff If it even makes it to the Switch.
This looks really cool, somebody finally made a game out of 'Rollerball'
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