Chances are that if you gather enough esports professionals, executives, journalists, etc. in a room and ask them which esports has the potential to break into the mainstream, Rocket League’s name will come up. When it comes to ‘getting to the next level’, a vehicular soccer game is always never far from the discussion.
Yet, despite its promise, Rocket League has not grown to become the most popular and well-known eSport in the world. The game has been fostering its own competitive scene for nearly eight years, boasting million-dollar events, significant viewership, and the kind of publicity that is usually reserved only for eSports titles.
However, the reality is that Rocket League esports has faced considerable challenges in living up to its high expectations. Controversy, criticism, and especially the troubled 2024 esports scene have hindered its progress. In perhaps the most symbolic moment for the RLCS last year, the Gamin Gladiators Rocket League team found itself in the BLAST Rocket League Major last June. It feels like Rocket League esports is really in the toilet.
Rocket League hasn’t been as successful as many expected so far. Is the game overhyped or underappreciated?
