M Alzamora 
Many believe that Rocket League and its esports scene are dying but fans aren’t willing to let it go without a fight, which is on display with the #WeAreNotFortnite movement.
Developed in 2015 by Psyonix and later acquired by Epic Games, Rocket League boils down to being an arcade-style soccer game with cars. The game was a breakout hit and saw a robust esports scene built around it. While the game may not be the most popular title under Epic Games’ umbrella, it has some of the most dedicated fans out there.
Some fans feel that Epic Games is wasting Rocket League’s esports potential in favor of Fortnite. Now, they’re demanding that the company pays more attention to their concerns.
Is Rocket League dying?
The casual side of Rocket League has a dwindling userbase, while many esports organizations are dropping their RL teams.
In November 2024, Rocket League saw a peak daily player count of approximately 30,000 on Steam. This is a steep drop from the 140,000 players in 2020, though not terrible for an almost 10-year-old game. These numbers do not account for the game’s player base on consoles or the Epic Games Store.
Regardless, by all measurements, the game has been on a decline since its free-to-play pivot. Fortnite’s minigame Rocket Racing has drawn some players away from RL. Others have moved onto greener pastures with no major updates to draw them back.
The esports side of the game isn’t faring well, either. Several notable organizations have bowed out of Rocket League, like G2 Esports and Ninjas in Pyjamas. While announcing the release of its Rocket League roster, TSM cited a lack of details on the monetization structure as a factor in its decision. No clear information on monetization is a red flag for most teams.
Many fans blame Epic Games for spending too much time and money on Fortnite. In recent months, the company has spent considerable resources on Fortnite, from major in-game events to collabs with popular gaming IPs and major celebrities. In doing so, fans argue, Epic Games is completely neglecting other games.
Rocket League fans, esports stars strike back on X
Concerned players have made thousands of tweets using #WeAreNotFortnite to demand a separation between Rocket League and Fortnite.
The ultimate goal of the hashtag seems to be convincing Epic Games to revive their esports competitions. This could look like providing more details for the expected 2025 RL season and providing monetization structures, though no specific demands have been made. #WeAreNotFortnite symbolizes the community’s frustration at being overlooked.
Both Joe “Joyokami” Young and Austin “AYYJAYY” Aebi, popular RL esports players, tweeted out their support for #WeAreNotFortnite. Their responses come alongside thousands of casual players and fans alike.
Will the outrage over Rocket League make a difference to Epic Games? That’s uncertain. Fortnite’s estimated player count dwarfs anything Rocket League has seen. It would take a lot to keep the Rocket League scene from dying, but maybe a good, old-fashioned social media campaign will at least prompt Epic Games to take stock.
