The world of esports is witnessing significant changes, particularly in the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) and the introduction of the Overwatch Champions Series. These developments reflect the evolving nature of competitive gaming and its response to various external factors.
In the RLCS, the structure of the tournament has been notably altered. The series has been reduced to two major tournaments and the World Championship, a departure from its previous format. This change is accompanied by a reduced prize pool, which has decreased from $6 million to $4.3 million. Furthermore, there’s a notable shift in the geographic focus of the tournaments, with only North America and Europe hosting events, and broadcasts being limited to English.
These adjustments have had ripple effects throughout the Rocket League esports community. Six established casters were dropped from this year’s events, impacting the commentary landscape. The changes have also affected teams, with several losing sponsorships and experiencing player shakeups. Adding to the tumultuous atmosphere, Squishy, a prominent figure in Rocket League, announced his retirement from professional play to focus on streaming.
A significant shift in the Rocket League esports is the adoption of open qualifiers. This new approach allows a broader range of competitors to participate, rather than having teams buy in for the season. Despite a smaller overall prize pool, the distribution is more extensive, with the top 128 teams in North America receiving payouts.
The Valorant esports scene continues to strengthen, with a viewership peak of 1.4 million for the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour. Valorant has always featured open qualifiers, and this year sees the expansion of this system with Premier, a competitive track integrated into the game itself. This initiative serves as an additional pathway for players to reach the main stage.
Blizzard’s announcement of the Overwatch Champions Series marks a new chapter for Overwatch 2 esports. This new series differs from its predecessor, the Overwatch League, by featuring open qualifiers. However, the series’ production by ESL FACEIT, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has raised concerns.
In the broader context of esports, open registration is becoming a more common practice, as evidenced by events like EVO, the largest fighting game tournament, which hosted over 9,000 players in 2023. This trend towards open registration democratizes esports, providing opportunities for diverse participation and nurturing young talent.
These developments in the esports arena indicate a period of transition and experimentation, as organizations adapt to changing circumstances and strive to create more inclusive and accessible competitive platforms.