In an electrifying showdown that captivated fans worldwide, the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2022/2023 World Championship marked a pivotal moment in esports history, smashing Rocket League’s previous peak viewership record with an astonishing 468,292 peak concurrent viewers, according to data from Esports Charts. The two-week-long event, which concluded on August 13, showcased the gaming prowess of international teams, leaving an indelible mark on the competitive gaming landscape.
Hosted in the vibrant city of Düsseldorf, Germany, this year’s World Championship surpassed all expectations, triumphantly surging past Rocket League’s previous record of 368,721 peak viewers by an impressive margin of nearly 100,000 viewers. The defining moment occurred during a nail-biting semi-final clash between French juggernauts Team Vitality and Karmine Corp., two teams sporting French rosters that thrived in the country’s fervent Rocket League player and fan base.
The prominence of the French audience was palpable, as the event’s language share illustrated. French-language streams resonated with a substantial 203,175 peak viewers, only trailing slightly behind the English-language streams, which garnered 291,646 peak viewers. This dichotomy of language streams mirrored the dynamic nature of Rocket League’s global reach, uniting fans from diverse linguistic backgrounds under the banner of competitive gaming excitement.
It was not just the viewership records that defined the RLCS 2022/2023 World Championship, but the cultural intersections and strategic alliances that unfolded on-screen. The grand finals witnessed a tense battle between Team Vitality and another French roster, Team BDS, a showdown that culminated in a peak viewership of 425,196. The semis were co-streamed by the celebrated French streamer and Karmine Corp. co-owner Kameto, elevating the engagement even further.
Despite the groundbreaking success, the event faced an unexpected twist when it failed to eclipse the average concurrent viewership of the previous season. Last year’s World Championship boasted an average-minute audience of 154,302 viewers, while this season’s figures stood at 147,858. However, both events maintained remarkably similar total airtime of 66 hours, reaffirming the consistent interest in Rocket League’s high-octane matches.
Surprisingly, North American teams encountered a stumble on the global stage, failing to advance beyond the quarterfinals. This unexpected turn of events reverberated throughout one of Rocket League’s largest markets. Similarly, other crucial regions, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South America, faced a similar challenge, illustrating the ever-evolving and unpredictable nature of competitive gaming.
Murty Shah, Esports Product and Operations Lead at Psyonix, the game developer behind Rocket League, took to Twitter to express his sentiments following the conclusion of the event, stating, “This Worlds was the culmination of that vision. To make something I only dreamt about for so many years come to life on this scale has truly been the privilege of a lifetime.” Shah’s reflection underscored the enduring commitment to nurturing Rocket League’s potential as an esports powerhouse.
As the RLCS season draws to a close, the Rocket League segment of the Saudi esports festival, Gamers8, is poised to captivate fans later this month. The anticipation builds as rumours swirl about a prolonged hiatus before the advent of the next RLCS season. With each passing championship, Rocket League solidifies its position in the competitive gaming stratosphere, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter of its exhilarating journey.