Raccoon Logic announced a new 4v4 ice hockey game, Breakaway Hockey League, at Gamescom. The game features five‑minute matches, ranked play and a focus on spectacle. Ice hockey viewership has been expanding globally, with new audiences in Japan, China, France, Italy and a professional women’s league, the PWHL. Breakaway Hockey League puts players in control of a single skater in a third‑person, over‑the‑shoulder view, contrasting with top‑down titles such as EA’s NHL series. The developers say the game includes realistic puck physics, physical checking, skill moves like dekes, and precision shooting. Raccoon Logic said the title was created to fill a perceived gap in the PC market, though numerous hockey games already exist on Steam, including titles such as Bush League Hockey, Hoser Hockey and Backyard Hockey ’02. Game director Steve Masters said the studio aims to preserve the core of hockey while delivering modern competitive action. Marketing boss Hugo Agostinho noted that the game’s arcade‑style design is intended to produce highlight‑reel moments that can be shared online. He added that the HBO show Heated Rivalry has helped introduce hockey to a broader audience. Agostinho said the game targets players of shooters such as Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League and Counter‑Strike, drawing design inspiration from those titles rather than traditional sports games. Raccoon Logic plans to release the game through Steam Early Access after conducting alpha and beta playtests that incorporate community feedback. No gameplay footage has been released yet, but the studio said a preview is forthcoming. The release will test how the game’s fast‑paced, spectator‑focused format resonates with both hockey enthusiasts and players from other competitive genres.