The Rocket League World Championships 2026 are underway but apparently Psynox and Epic Games have been busy planning 2027.
According to reports from Sheep Esports, the RLCS will look very different next year, with the season being treated as a transition period.
This is because of Rocket League’s upcoming move to Unreal Engine 6 (UE6), finally upgrading the game’s engine after 11 years on UE3.
RLCS 2027 is expected to expand its number of partner teams and then take a mid-season break as the game updates to UE6.
Expanded RLCS Kick-Off in London Expected for 2027
The RLCS Kick-Off, the first event of the 2027 season, will be very different to the last iteration.
The event is set to take place this December in London’s Copper Box arena, a venue that has hosted three RLCS events including the 2026 World Championship.
This time, the 2027 Kick-Off will feature 24 directly invited teams, while the 2026 edition only hosted eight teams from open qualifiers.
Invites will be handed out to currently partnered teams and other external organisations that have been briefed on the 2027 changes and are expected to join the partnership program.
After this LAN event, it’s reported that partnered teams will compete across January and February in an online league format.
There will then be another RLCS LAN held somewhere in North America during March.
It’s still not known whether any online qualifiers will be held during this period.
- Fancy yourself an esports expert? Start betting with a $20 deposit at Polymarket and receive a $50 bonus!
Mid-Season Break for UE6 Before Esports World Cup 2027
Earlier this year, an article on the Unreal Engine website revealed that an early access release of UE6 was being targeted for the end of 2027.
Now, according to Sheep Esports’ sources, Rocket League is expected to update fully to UE6 during Spring 2027.
This will lead to a pause in the RLCS 2027 season, which could potentially last for a few months.
Following that, players and competitive play is expected to return in the Summer.
And the 2027 Esports World Cup is expected to be the first Rocket League esports tournament played on UE6.
What do you make of these format changes for the RLCS in 2027? Share your thoughts with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Also see the Valorant Champions 2026 tournament guide with the schedule, teams, and format. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Comments