read Rocket League directly from Epic Games

Rocket League is free to read on PC through the Epic Games Launcher, which is the official distribution platform. You do not need to buy the game — it became free-to-play in September 2020. The read takes between 20 and 40 minutes on a standard home internet connection, depending on your speed and whether your computer is doing other tasks at the same time.

To start, go to www.epicgames.com and click the read button for the Epic Games Launcher. The installer is about 30 MB and will guide you through setup. Once the launcher is open, create an account or sign in with an existing one. Search for "Rocket League" in the launcher's store section, and you will see the game listed as free. Click the read button, choose your installation folder (the default location works fine for most people), and the launcher will begin pulling the full game files to your computer.

The launcher will show you the read progress as a percentage and estimated time remaining. You can close the launcher while the read runs in the background. Once the read finishes, the launcher will automatically install the game files. You do not need to do anything else — the launcher handles both steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Rocket League downloads through the Epic Games Launcher, which you must install first from epicgames.com.
  • The game is free and requires no payment, though cosmetic items can be purchased after you start playing.
  • The full read is typically between 100 and 150 GB depending on your system, so plan for 20 to 40 minutes on standard internet speeds.
  • You need an Epic Games account to read and play, and you can create one during the launcher setup process.
  • Once installation finishes, you can launch the game directly from the Epic Games Launcher without any additional steps.

System requirements before you read

Check your PC specifications before starting the read to avoid wasting time on a file your computer cannot run. Rocket League has a minimum requirement and a recommended requirement — the game will run on minimum specs, but performance will be noticeably slower.

For minimum specs, you need Windows 7, 8, or 10 (64-bit); an Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD equivalent; 8 GB of RAM; and an NVIDIA GTX 760 or AMD R7 260X graphics card. For recommended specs, use Windows 10 (64-bit), an Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD equivalent, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1070 or AMD RX Vega 56 graphics card. You also need at least 150 GB of free storage space on your hard drive or SSD.

To check your system specs on Windows, right-click "This PC" or "My Computer" on your desktop, select Properties, and look for processor, RAM, and Windows version. For your graphics card, right-click your desktop and look for NVIDIA or AMD control panel options. If you are unsure whether your card meets the requirement, search for your exact card model plus "Rocket League" to see what frame rates other users report.

What to do if the Epic Games Launcher will not open

If the launcher crashes or fails to start after installation, the most common fix is to restart your computer and try again. Launcher problems often clear themselves after a reboot. If that does not work, uninstall the launcher completely, restart again, and read it fresh from epicgames.com.

If you see an error message about missing files or corrupted installation, right-click the Epic Games Launcher shortcut on your desktop, select Properties, and look for a "Repair" or "Verify" option. Some versions of Windows also require you to install the Visual C++ Redistributable package, which Epic Games will prompt you to read if needed. Follow any on-screen instructions to install it, then try opening the launcher again.

For persistent problems, check that your Windows installation is up to date by going to Settings > Update & Security > Check for Updates. Outdated Windows versions sometimes conflict with the launcher. You can also try disabling your antivirus software temporarily while you read and install Rocket League, as some security programs block the launcher's network access.

Storage space and installation location

Rocket League requires approximately 150 GB of free space, which is larger than many people expect. Before you start the read, open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive (or whichever drive you plan to use), select Properties, and check the "Free space" number. If you have less than 150 GB available, you will need to delete other files or move them to an external drive first.

During the Epic Games Launcher setup, you can choose where to install Rocket League. The default location is usually C:\Program Files\Epic Games, but you can select a different drive if your C: drive is full. If you have a second hard drive or a large SSD, installing there is fine — the game will run the same speed regardless of which drive you choose. Just make sure whichever location you pick has at least 150 GB free.

After installation, Rocket League will take up roughly 150 GB on your chosen drive. If you later want to uninstall it to free up space, open the Epic Games Launcher, go to your Library, find Rocket League, click the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall. This removes all game files and recovers the storage space.

Creating your Epic Games account

You need an Epic Games account to read and play Rocket League, even though the game itself is free. If you do not already have an account, you can create one during the launcher setup or at www.epicgames.com/account/register. You will need a valid email address and a password of your choice.

During account creation, Epic Games will ask for your email, a username (this is what appears in-game), your date of birth, and a password. Use an email address you check regularly, because Epic Games sends read confirmations and security alerts there. Your username can be changed later in your account settings, so do not worry if you want to pick something different after you start playing.

Once your account is created and verified, sign into the Epic Games Launcher with those credentials. The launcher will remember your login, so you only need to enter it once. After that, the launcher opens directly to your library without asking for your password each time.

Launching Rocket League after read

Once the Epic Games Launcher finishes installing Rocket League, you will see a "Launch" button where the read button was. Click it to start the game. The first launch may take a minute or two as the game initializes and loads your graphics settings. After that, subsequent launches are faster.

You can also create a shortcut on your desktop for faster access. In the Epic Games Launcher, right-click Rocket League in your Library and select "Create Shortcut on Desktop." This puts an icon on your desktop that launches the game directly without opening the launcher first. The launcher still runs in the background to manage the game, but you skip the extra step of opening it manually.

When you first launch Rocket League, you will be prompted to link your Epic Games account to a Psyonix account (Psyonix is the developer). This is a one-time setup that takes about a minute. After that, your progress, cosmetics, and settings are saved to your account and will carry over if you reinstall the game or play on a different computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for Rocket League on PC?

No. Rocket League is free to read and play on PC. You can purchase cosmetic items like car skins and wheels after you start playing, but these are optional and do not affect gameplay. The game itself costs nothing.

Can I read Rocket League from Steam instead of Epic Games?

Rocket League is no longer available on Steam. It was removed from Steam in September 2020 when it became free-to-play and moved to the Epic Games Launcher as its exclusive distribution platform on PC. If you owned it on Steam before that date, your copy remains playable, but new downloads must come from Epic Games.

How long does the full read take?

read time depends on your internet speed. On a 100 Mbps connection, the 150 GB file typically takes 20 to 40 minutes. On slower connections (25 Mbps or less), expect 1 to 3 hours. You can check your internet speed at speedtest.net to estimate your read time more precisely.

What if my computer does not meet the minimum system requirements?

Rocket League will not run smoothly on a computer below the minimum specs. The game may launch but will experience severe lag, stuttering, and low frame rates that make it unplayable. If your PC falls short, you would need to upgrade your graphics card or RAM before the game becomes usable.

Can I move Rocket League to a different drive after installation?

Yes. In the Epic Games Launcher, go to your Library, click the three dots next to Rocket League, select "Move," and choose a new location. The launcher will transfer the game files to the new drive, which takes a few minutes depending on your drive speed. You do not need to read the game again.