The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2025 season has been announced, featuring an exciting new format and a massive $5,000,000 prize pool. The changes introduced in this season are designed to enhance opportunities for players, fans, and teams across the globe, with a notable focus on emerging regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). For African gamers, this marks a groundbreaking step toward greater inclusion in the global esports landscape.
A New 1v1 Format: Showcasing Individual Talent
In a bold move, the 2025 RLCS season will introduce a 1v1 format running alongside the traditional 3v3 competitions. This will allow individual players to showcase their skills on the biggest stage in Rocket League. For regions like SSA, where individual talent has often been overshadowed by infrastructural and logistical challenges, this provides a much-needed opportunity to shine.
How the 1v1 Format Works:
- Split 1: The 1v1 series will begin with Open Qualifiers in the EU, SAM, and APAC regions. The top players will compete for cash prizes, and the best from the EU and SAM will move on to a 1v1 final at Major 1.
- Split 2: Open Qualifiers will then take place in North America, MENA, OCE, and SSA during the second split. The top performers will advance to Major 2’s 1v1 final.
- World Championship Showdown: The winners from Major 1 and Major 2 will face off in an epic 1v1 battle at the 2025 RLCS World Championship.
This format gives players from SSA a prime chance to make their mark, as they compete alongside some of the best Rocket League players in the world.
Last Chance Open Qualifiers: Keeping the Dream Alive
For teams that miss out on earlier opportunities, RLCS 2025 will introduce the Last Chance Open Qualifiers. Taking place between Major 2 and the World Championship, these qualifiers will offer teams from the four strongest regions, including SSA, another shot at making it to the World Championship. Only one team from each region will qualify through these last-chance events, making for high-stakes, nail-biting competition.
An Expanded RLCS World Championship: More Teams, More Chances
The 2025 Rocket League World Championship will feature an expanded field, with 20 teams competing for the title. This expansion includes a Play-Ins stage, where the four winners from the Last Chance Open Qualifiers will go head-to-head against the lowest-seeded teams from the weakest-performing regions. Out of this group, only four teams will advance to join the top 12 teams in the main event, increasing the chances for underdog teams, including those from SSA, to make an impact on the global stage.
Rankings-Based Qualification: Rewarding Consistency
A new Rankings Qualification system will be introduced to streamline the qualification process. Teams that perform well in Open Qualifiers will have a chance to automatically advance to later stages, reducing the grind of going through early rounds repeatedly. However, this system won’t apply to the Last Chance Qualifier, ensuring the competition remains accessible and fair for all teams.
A Breakthrough for Sub-Saharan Africa
The inclusion of Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1v1 format and Last Chance Open Qualifiers is a monumental shift for African esports. Historically, African players and teams have struggled to gain representation in global competitions due to a lack of infrastructure and resources. This new RLCS format not only offers them more opportunities to compete but also allows African players to gain exposure and build a stronger presence on the international stage.
As Rocket League continues to expand, the 2025 RLCS season is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic yet, offering African gamers a pathway to showcase their talent and potentially make history. For SSA, this is more than just another tournament—it’s a moment of inclusion, an opportunity to rewrite the narrative for African esports, and a chance for African players to rise to global prominence.
With a renewed focus on emerging regions, RLCS 2025 promises to be a season of opportunity, growth, and thrilling competition. For African gamers, the door to the global stage has never been more open.
