“It’s been way too long, hasn’t it?” says product manager Stephane Drapeau in a new video. “But I think I know what you want to know, and heck, I am happy to oblige: Roller Champions is coming early 2021.” It was previously due in early 2020 but well. The futuresport is still meant to be free-to-play, last I heard. Like roller derby, Roller Champions has teams zooming laps around a ring, dodging and tackling and blocking. Except it’s also a ballsport, where you need to shoot into hoops and can pass the ball around your team. Matt Cox (RPS in peace) tried Roller Champions at E3 last year with, ah, not a great deal of success - but real triumph. Best played if you and your pals punch each other in the head before each match so you forget how to play, maybe. If it supports solo matchmaking, slamming your head in the door might do it. “I laughed aloud again, typing that out. It was joyful in a way I can’t properly convey, and I’m positive I’ll never be able to replicate. When Roller Champions comes out next year I won’t be able to warmly shake the hands of my opponents as we all struggle to stop giggling.” Ahead of today’s Ubisoft Forward stream, company CEO Yves Guillemot apologised to the people they didn’t protect, among other controversies.
