Record amount of viewers broken at Rocket League World Championship

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) has only just concluded, bringing to a close a two weeks battle between some of the greatest. The RLCS has broken another record, breaking the peak viewership record set last year. At its peak, it was at an all-time high of 468,292, according to Esports Charts recent data. 

The Rocket League Championship Series had a total prize pool of $6 million (£5.2 million), with this current World Championship having an overall prize of around $2.1 million (£1.65 million).

About this year's tournament

This year’s world championships took place in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event was the biggest the World Series has seen. The match in which this record was broken was between Team Vitality and Karmine Corp in the semi-final of the competition. The other semi-final match would have also broken the previous year’s record if the mammoth of a match hadn’t taken place.

Overall, this year’s event saw a slight drop in viewers compared to last year’s World Championships. The 2022–23 period saw an average viewership of 154,302, but this year’s recorded an average of a 7,000 drop in viewers, seeing only 147,858. Both events saw about the same levels of viewers (9.5 million vs. 10 million hours) and airtime (64 vs. 66 hours).

History of the Tournament

Let’s briefly explore the evolution and influence of the Rocket League World Championships on the competitive gaming landscape.

Early Years and Inception (2016–2017)

The launch of the Rocket League World Championships in 2016, less than a year after the game’s release, highlights Rocket League’s quick rise to prominence as a competitive esports title. The inaugural championship, which had a $55,000 prize fund, was held in Hollywood, California. Northern Gaming won, demonstrating their dominance in the opening competition.

The size of the championships increased along with the popularity of the game. With a prize fund of $150,000, the competition relocated to Los Angeles’ renowned Wiltern Theatre in 2017. The fast-paced, action-packed games enthralled the audience, making the Rocket League World Championships a must-watch event on the esports calendar.

Global Expansion and Rising Prizes (2018–2019) 

In 2018, the Rocket League World Championships moved to London, England, to embrace a worldwide perspective. The $1,000,000 prize fund for the competition was a crucial turning point in the history of the game’s competitive scene. As the winners, Cloud9 will go down in Rocket League history.

The championship travelled to Madrid, Spain, in 2019, when the level of competition and intensity increased. Teams engaged in ferocious competition for a $529,500 prize pool, and NRG Esports emerged as the victor as the current Rocket League champions

Challenges and Adaptation in a Pandemic (2020–2021)

The COVID-19 epidemic presented the esports community with previously unheard-of difficulties that sparked adaptations and novel solutions. There was no exception at the Rocket League World Championships. The competition changed to an online format in 2020, showcasing the esports community’s tenacity in the face of difficulty. The competition kept its excitement while demonstrating the extraordinary talent and commitment of players competing remotely.

The Rocket League World Championships made a comeback in 2021 with a hybrid structure that combined local online competitions with an international event that took place in person. The $3,000,000 total prize fund for the championship best represented Rocket League’s lasting appeal and spirit of competition.