2021 Ford F-150 Rockets Into Esports

by Jason R. Sakurai

Published: February 12th, 2021

The 2021 Ford F-150 has a plethora of parts and accessories available, but none like a rocket booster that comes with a virtual version of Ford’s best-seller.

Video game maker Psyonix has added an animated F-150 to their popular Rocket League multiplayer video game, where vehicles are used to compete in soccer matches. Available for in-game purchase February 20-28, the F-150 Rocket League Edition (RLE) bundle includes a chairman decal, two sets of wheels, RLE engine audio, rocket booster, and a player banner.

The F-150 in Rocket League comes after Ford’s success in sponsoring other titles, such as Xbox’s Forza. Working alongside Psyonix, a video game developer of note, the icon was created. Commercial shorts narrated by ‘Breaking Bad’ actor Bryan Cranston will be produced by Ford, targeted at gamers.

“It had to be an F-150 but one that fits within Psyonix’ extreme virtual world pairing soccer and mayhem,” said Ehab Kaoud, chief designer, Ford trucks. “F-150 is already the most popular truck in the real world, and this F-150 Rocket League Edition is poised to be the most popular truck in the gaming world, too. It’s Built Ford Tough meets gaming.”

Ford will serve as presenting sponsor of this month’s Rocket League Championship Series Winter Majors with an arena filled with billboards, and a special F-150 repair vehicle that repaints boundary lines and tows away damaged vehicles. In addition, Ford is sponsoring the Ford + Rocket League Freestyle Invitational, a competition where select players show off their best moves and tricks in-game, with one contestant winning a real 2021 Ford F-series pickup.

More than 214 million Americans play video games, and 75 percent of all U.S. households are home to at least one gamer, according to the gaming industry’s Entertainment Software Association.

“As opportunities in gaming continue to grow, we’re really looking at this as its own marketing channel,” said Scott Denby, strategy manager, Ford brand content and alliances. “It’s the same way you would look at social media or TV and film integration. We’re identifying authentic ways to be involved in gaming and to do it in a meaningful way. We want to make sure we’re adding to the player communities’ experience.”

[Images: Ford]

#F-150 #Ford #Marketing #Sponsorships #Videogames

Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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EBFlex on Feb 12, 2021

Pointless. If you really want to spend your money wisely, you get your licensed vehicles into the Grand Theft Auto franchise. And other game is a waste of money.

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- Art Vandelay on Feb 13, 2021
  
  Yeah, so if you played the franchise you'd know that it isn't something they do. The naming of the cars is sort of a thing in the franchise. Plenty of marketing opportunities in games like Asetto Corso and iRacing I suppose. Most everyone's high end cars are in those already though.
  
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- EBFlex on Feb 13, 2021
  
  @Art Vandelay As usual you’re completely wrong. I’ve played the GTA series since GTA 3. My phrasing was intentional. “Get your license vehicles into the GTA franchise “. If there is a will there’s a way. Rockstar doesn’t care as long as they don’t have to pay for it or if they are getting paid to do it. It’s really that simple.
  
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- Art Vandelay on Feb 14, 2021
  
  @EBFlex Well you can rock a model T in Red Dead Redemption (same game engine) But nobody is going to pay to have their vehicle rendered and then given a name that hilights the negative stereotypes of the vehicle and RockStar isn't going to change their naming conventions...it is one of those things the fanbase has always loved which I'm sure you realize as you are such a long time player. They would be better served to do something about all the griefers in online play.
  
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- Art Vandelay on Feb 14, 2021
  
  @EBFlex Plus, do tell what OEM is going to want their products anywhere near that franchise. Yeah, we will pull our Springsteen ad because he got a DUI, but let's go all in on a game that plays up violence, sexism and racial stereotypes. Yeah, that'll happen. You game, so you say. Then you should know, get your cars in Forza or the new Grand Turismo. There are cars that are desirable pretty much because someone drove them in GT2. Nobody says "I really want that Regal look alike I pulled the drive by in and then jumped over the bridge in San Andreas. Maybe they should pay to have your boy Donald drive one. It would be no worse.
  
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- Art Vandelay on Feb 15, 2021
  
  @EBFlex Cheesed!ck
  
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- 28-Cars-Later on Feb 15, 2021
  
  This. I have never heard of this game and few in the US care about soccer so unless this game is popular internationally and Ford is trying to get at that audience, I don't see the 4D chess here.
  
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ToolGuy on Feb 13, 2021

Possibly related (probably not): https://electrek.co/2021/02/12/elon-musk-serious-making-tesla-roadster-hover-rocket-technology/

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