Epic Games has officially announced the start of the RLCS 2024 season, but the news has been met with backlash from the community. Let’s take a deep dive into the changes that have been made and the reasons behind the negative reactions from fans across the globe.
It appears that the format for the upcoming season remains largely unchanged from the previous one, but without the Fall split. This means fewer tournaments, a reduced prize pool, and a noticeable lack of communication from Epic Games.
Credit: Rocket League Esports
No More Third Split
Format-wise, there were hopes for more LAN events for RLCS 2024, but instead, only 3 international LANs have been announced, including two majors and the World Championship Finals.
Each Major will feature three online qualifiers, and the new two-split system means there will be significantly less Rocket League action compared to previous seasons.
Prior to the announcement, a two-split season with a break throughout the season for both players and spectators was acceptable. However, the announced dates seem to be aligned with previous years (without the Fall split), with every region playing on the same weekend. This is disappointing news for a number of reasons.
Spectators will be forced to watch multiple regions at the same time, which may negatively impact viewership for minor regions. This, in turn, may lead to decreased interest from organizations in signing teams from these regions.
This appears to be a move by the RLCS 2024 team toward a more sustainable format, as it eliminates the need to pay the production team and casters to work across multiple weekends.
Credit: Psyonix
Open Qualifier and RLCS 2024 Major Format
Each online Open Qualifier will now use a standardized format across the year, featuring open double elimination brackets, a 16-team Swiss System, and an 8-team single elimination bracket to determine regional standings.
This is one of the few positive changes going into this year, as Swiss proved to be the best format for qualification matches. The new qualification system aims to provide clarity for both new and seasoned fans while consistently sending the best teams in the regions to the Majors.
Both RLCS 2024 Majors will also use the same standardized format as the Open Qualifiers. However, there will still only be 16 teams at each major, something that many fans hoped would be increased for this year. The qualified teams for this year will also see some changes.
- North America (NA): Top four (4) teams
- Europe (EU): Top four (4) teams
- Middle East & North Africa (MENA): Top two (2) teams
- Oceania (OCE): Top two (2) teams
- South America (SAM): Top two (2) teams
- Asia-Pacific (APAC): Top (1) team
- Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Top (1) team
While giving SSA the chance to compete at Majors and giving MENA a second spot was a priority, this has come at the cost of losing a spot for both Europe and North America which has raised concerns.
Credit: Rocket League Esports
Minimum Age
The decision to reduce the minimum age from 15 to 13 has raised concerns within the community. Allowing children as young as 13 to compete at the top of a highly competitive esport and sign professional contracts is viewed as a concerning move that could introduce immense pressure and potential issues such as players dropping out of school to play.
This change, most likely to align with Fortnite esports, is seen as irresponsible and has been met with criticism. Raising the minimum age in Fortnite, rather than lowering it in Rocket League, could be a more suitable approach.
Team Vitality were the penultimate RLCS 2023 Winners
Prize Pool
The prize pool has been announced to be $4,300,000, marking a significant decrease from the previous $6,000,000. This decrease, the first in RLCS history, has raised concerns about the growth of the game.
Another concern is the widened prize distribution, with cash prizes now awarded to more teams, even in regions with smaller competitive player bases. This decision has left many fans confused and highlights a clear lack of understanding of the competitive player base.
There is Hope for the RLCS 2024 Season
While the changes may serve as downgrades from previous seasons, it’s important to recognize that the RLCS team is striving towards creating a sustainable competition for the future. Ultimately, the hope is that these financial cuts will prove necessary to ensure the game’s long-term survival.
Despite the negative reactions, it’s clear that the current decision-makers may not fully understand the needs of fans and players. This lack of understanding, compounded by a general lack of communication about the game’s future, has caused significant frustration within the community.
