Lifeor

There's a reset coming in the Rocket League competitive scene that many are still largely unprepared for. Recently, I've had numerous talks with players, content creators, and ownership across different teams in the ecosystem that we can't rely only on a competitive calendar alone to create value - it's simply not enough. Even in our case where we have players with a big presence and the incredible backing of an amazing partner for the team, it's critical that we continue to find new ways to deliver value for them outside of tournaments. One of the major problems in the ecosystem is that we still haven't cracked the code for the right way to develop and promote digital goods: feedback I've collected from the majority of teams were that decals sales were very disappointing. We need to make it clear to both fans and players that in the near-term we're in the business of marketing the game and specifically the skins in it. I believe this is still currently the most viable revenue stream for esports that's best aligned with what viewers and the playerbase is actually willing to spend money on. Team decals were a good, then innovative start, but we need to evolve the offering and find better integrations within the competitive scene. I'm still relatively new to the scene so I've refrained from speaking out too much on this topic, but there's so much potential still left to unlock that we've only scratched the surface of. As an org, we're still absolutely committed to Rocket League esports - it's one of the most brand and user-friendly esports out there, with a dedicated and amazing fan and playerbase. If we can make progress to create value through better content, sales of in-game digital items, and increased visibility & integration supported by Epic, we can have an exciting esport that teams and brands would again jump to invest into. I know much of the above seems like doom and gloom, but I actually think we are beginning to take these right steps. Now with a longer term owner of the competitive circuit, I'm beginning to more clearly see how a viable path can be developed to create a more sustainable esports ecosystem for Rocket League, and it's one that I'm excited to contribute to as an organization that wants to build for the long run.