RLCS 2024 Announced with $4.3 million prize pool & new format
The long, long-awaited announcement is finally here! Rocket League esports is back.
After the longest off-season in the history of the title, Epic Games has now announced RLCS 2024, as, in cohesion with BLAST, Rocket League returns to our screens later in January.
But as the keys to the ignition kick life into the community and the new-look teams all over the world start to rev their engines, the RLCS 2024 format comes with a number of changes to years gone by.
RLCS 2024 to pivot to a two-Split season with a $4.3 million prize pool
Click to enlargeSince RLCS switched up the formula in Season X, moving away from League Play, we've seen Epic and ESL spearhead a three-Split circuit - all in anticipation of the World Championships.
Now, BLAST will be kicking things off with a slightly smaller circuit, presumably as a result of missing out on what would usually have been the Fall Major, and will be starting the 2024 Calendar with two Splits and Worlds on the cards.
Split One (unnamed) will start off the RLCS 2024 season on January 26, with Open Qualifiers for the respective regions starting. Sign-ups for RLCS 2024 will open on January 17. The transfer window will then open on April 1, closing on April 14, before Split Two commences on April 19.
Both the Majors and the World Championships remain elusive to the Rocket League community, as Epic Games confirmed to GGRecon that international events are still yet to be confirmed, including the dates and locations.
The Prize Pool for the entire RLCS 2024 is set at "over" $4,300,000 and will be split more diversely than before, especially in each Regional. Here, the top 128 teams in NA and EU, the top 64 in MENA, SAM, and Oceania, and the top 32 in APAC and SSA will all get cash rewards.
RLCS 2024 format and qualification explained
Click to enlargeEach Split in the RLCS 2024 Season contains three stages, similar to that of last year. There will be three Regionals before the Majors.
The Regionals will then be played out in the following format:
- Open Double Elimination bracket to determine the top 16 teams in each region.
- 16-team Swiss System to determine the top 8 teams in each region.
- 8-team Single Elimination bracket to determine standings in each region.
Again, these Regionals will award teams with points that will seed the Majors and Worlds, accrued throughout the year.
As for the Majors, there is a slight tweak to the system this year, as the 16-team format remains, but seeding will scrap the regional points system. Instead, each has a set number of slots per region (notably, MENA has been awarded a second Major slot).
Major Qualification is as follows:
- North America: Top four teams
- Europe: Top four teams
- Middle East & North Africa: Top two teams
- Oceania: Top two teams
- South America: Top two teams
- Asia-Pacific: Top one team
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Top one team
Here, Majors will see the following structure:
- 16-team Swiss system to determine the top 8 teams
- 8-team Single Elimination bracket
The same number of slots will also apply to the World Championships. Epic Games and BLAST have also outlined some safeguarding surrounding minors, given that they have now lowered the minimum age requirements to 13.
Each minor must have parent or guardian permission to compete, must have a parent or guardian attend in-person events, and there is a minimum age requirement of 18 to become a Coach or Manager.
