Padel continues to expand its influence far beyond the courts. After conquering clubs, social media, and streaming platforms, the trendiest racket sport of the moment is now taking on the world of video games. A field that was still virtually untouched… until the arrival of  Padel rivals .

According to an interview given to the Spanish newspaper  Brand Behind this project, we find  Edgar gomez , developer and general manager of the game, who has been working for several months on what could become the first truly immersive padel gaming experience.

"I was surprised that there's still no padel game."

The idea for the project came about quite simply. A lifelong video game enthusiast, Edgar Gómez discovered padel four years ago and naturally wanted to extend the experience once he returned home. However, to his great surprise, no dedicated padel game existed on the market.

"I found it surprising that a sport with such a huge following still didn't have its own video game," he explains.
Faced with this void, he decided to embark on the project himself: "I've been developing games for over fifteen years, so I decided to give it a try."

Le résultat:  Padel rivals , an arcade-style and competitive game, designed to be quickly accessible but demanding at a high level. "Easy to pick up, but difficult to master," sums up its creator.

Padel Rivals: when gaming finally meets padel

A game designed for padel enthusiasts

The project aims to go far beyond a simple quick-match game. Several modes are already planned:

  • matches against artificial intelligence,
  • local multiplayer for up to four players,
  • online fashion,
  • tournaments and leagues,
  • narrative career mode.

The developers even imagined a fictional city and terrains with special visual effects to enrich the experience.

Players will be able to create their own character, progress through the game's universe, and encounter different opponents with their own stories. Training modes are also expected to be added as development progresses.

Gameplay focused on the sensations of padel

One of the major challenges of the project remains, of course, the transcription of the specific sensations of padel onto a console.

Several match formats will be available: full matches, tie-breaks or short formats for quick games of five to ten minutes.

The studio is also working on various gameplay parameters, such as camera angles or going out of bounds, an emblematic element of modern padel.

Edgar Gómez also insists on the importance of positioning and movement: the game will not be based solely on shots.

And this is probably where one of the major challenges lies in creating a truly successful padel simulation. As a sport of constant transitions—approaching the net, retreating defensively, changing pace—the gameplay must above all succeed in making these movements feel natural and fluid. It's this ability to seamlessly link phases of play that could truly bring the virtual experience closer to the sensations felt on a real court.

An open beta is planned for this summer.

The project continues its development with several important milestones to come. After a presence at  Padel World Summit The team will also be present at the gaming show.  OWN Valencia  this summer.

An open beta is expected to launch in July to allow players to test the game and provide feedback to the developers.

The stated goal is an early access release towards the end of the year, probably around November. This version will be largely playable, allowing the studio to refine the content based on community feedback before the full career mode is officially launched.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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