During the Nintendo Direct: February 2021 stream, Electronic Arts and developer Velan Studios announced Knockout City, a team-based multiplayer sports game about hurling balls at your opponent. It’s launching on PC (Origin, Steam), PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One on May 21, for $19.99. Closed beta starts this weekend on PC.
“At Velan we obsess over finding new play experiences,” said Karthik Bala, Co-founder and CEO of Velan Studios. “Knockout City starts with the deceptively simple concept of throwing and catching a ball and layers in an incredible amount of skill, depth and style, for a refreshingly fun competitive multiplayer experience that you have to play to believe. It ain’t just dodgeball, it’s dodgeBRAWL. Since we first found that magic in the game, we haven’t been able to stop playing and we can’t wait to share that experience with some of you during this weekend’s first closed beta.”
Knockout City includes 3v3, 4v4, and free for all matches via online Street Play, as well as competitive ranked matches in League Play. Gameplay is entirely skill based, though players will be able to customize their characters to create a unique look, including body type, attitude, gear, and hairstyle, as well as KO taunts and gliders. Up to 32 friends can form a Crew with their own name, logo, and banner, along with a vehicle to show up to each match in style.
The game also features crossplay between each platform, and is backwards compatible with next-gen consoles.
At launch everyone will be able to try the game via a free trial across every platform, delivering the full game with five maps, a practice arena, and full character customization. Any progression made will transfer to the full game should you choose to purchase the game after the trial has ended. EA doesn’t mention how long the free trial will last, but a beta test will take place this weekend, Feb. 20-21 on PC.
Knockout City will release on May 21.
