RLCS 2025 Brings Major Format Overhaul and $5 Million Prize Pool
With the conclusion of the Rocket League World Championship 2024, the stage is now set for the highly anticipated 2025 RLCS season.
Boasting a massive $5,000,000 prize pool and introducing several exciting format changes, the upcoming season is poised to deliver even more thrilling opportunities for both players and fans to compete and engage with the action.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 season and what’s changing.
RLCS 2025 Changes overview (Image Source: Rocket League Esports)Introducing the RLCS 1v1 Format
In an unprecedented move, the 2025 season will feature a brand-new 1v1 series, running parallel to the traditional 3v3 format. This addition aims to diversify the competition and allow individual talents to shine on the RLCS stage.
How it works:
Split 1: The 1v1 series will kick off with an Open Qualifier in the EU, SAM, and APAC regions. The top performers in each region will earn cash prizes. And the winner of the EU and SAM qualifiers will advance to a 1v1 Final at Major 1.
Split 2: North America, MENA, OCE, and SSA regions will host their Open Qualifiers in the second split, with the top players progressing to Major 2’s 1v1 Final.
World Championship Showdown: The two winners of Major 1 and Major 2 will face off in a 1v1 battle at the 2025 RLCS World Championship.
Players will have the unique opportunity to compete in both the 1v1 and 3v3 formats, providing more exposure for their skills and creating intense rivalries within organizations. In fact, multiple players from the same organization could find themselves facing off on the 1v1 stage.
Last Chance Open Qualifiers
For the teams that miss out on earlier qualification opportunities, the 2025 season will introduce Last Chance Open Qualifiers. Which will be held between Major 2 and the RLCS World Championship. These qualifiers will take place in the four strongest regions, determined by each region's performance at the RLCS Majors.
The stakes couldn’t be higher — as only one team from each of the four regions will emerge victorious and qualify for the RLCS World Championship.
Image Source: Rocket League EsportsAn Expanded RLCS World Championship
The 2025 Rocket League World Championship will be bigger than ever before, with 20 teams competing for ultimate glory.
- This expansion includes a Play-Ins stage, where four teams from the Last Chance Open Qualifiers will face off against the four lowest-seeded teams from the four lowest-ranked regions.
- From this Play-Ins stage, only four teams will move on to join the top 12 teams in the main event.
This added stage gives underdog teams more chances to prove themselves on the biggest stage in Rocket League.
Rankings-Based Qualification in Open Qualifiers
To streamline the qualification process and reward consistent performances, the RLCS is introducing a new Rankings Qualification system for Open Qualifiers.
The top eight teams from each qualifier will automatically advance to a later stage of the next Open Qualifier. This means they won’t need to grind through the initial rounds every time.
This system, however, won’t apply to the Last Chance Qualifier or the first Open Qualifier of each split. Thus ensuring that the field remains competitive and open to fresh challengers.
These thrilling changes in the 2025 RLCS season promise to create more opportunities, fuel intense rivalries, and deliver unforgettable moments for both players and fans. The new season promises to be one of the most dynamic yet in Rocket League history.
Stay up to date on the latest RLCS new on the official Rocket League Esports X account.
Featured Image Source: Rocket League Esports
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