Almost six years after the release of Unreal Engine 5, the next generation of Epic Games’ engine has been revealed at the Rocket League Championship Series 2026: Paris Major. Known, shockingly, as Unreal Engine 6, it will be incorporated into Psyonix’s free-to-play vehicular sports title.
A short trailer with real-time in-game footage, and from the outset, it sports extensive improvements to reflections, lighting quality, foliage and effects. Granted, it wasn’t an actual ongoing match, nor is there any indication of a release window, but it’s still a massive leap forward for Rocket League, which has used Unreal Engine 3 since release.
It’s pretty much a given that Epic’s other franchises, including Fortnite, LEGO Fortnite, and more, will shift to Unreal Engine 6 in due time. However, CEO Tim Sweeney believes it will be the “nexus point” for the studio’s work from Unreal Engine 5, combining the Unreal Editor for Fortnite with the main engine.
Whether that will influence Creator Made Experiences and how easy it is to make them remains to be seen. Sweeney did mention that preview versions of Unreal Engine 6 could arrive in 2027 or 2028 as the team makes “continuous progress.” Judging by this latest trailer, it may just be on track for next year. Time will tell, though, so stay tuned for further updates in the coming months.
