Rocket League developer Psyonix has announced the addition of esports team-themed in-game goal explosions, which will launch on June 23rd.
The in-game items are part of Psyonix’s revenue-sharing scheme for Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) teams.
The items will be added to the Rocket League Esports Shop, an in-game item shop launched in 2019 where fans can purchase team-based in-game cosmetic items. A cut of the revenue within the shop goes to the teams.
Psyonix said that the shop will be getting its final update of the season with the introduction of the RLCS 2021-22 Goal Explosions.
Only teams participating in the RLCS — Rocket League’s flagship developer-run open tournament circuit — are included in the esports shop, but not all participants in the RLCS have items within it. The criteria by which participating teams are selected for the shop has not been revealed.
Eight teams competing in the European region of RLCS (Dignitas, Endpoint, Evil Geniuses, Karmine Corp, Misfits Gaming, SMPR Esports, Team BDS, Team Vitality) and eight teams from North America (Complexity, Envy, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, Ghost Gaming, NRG, Spacestation Gaming, Version1) have received goal explosions.
Oceanic representatives Ground Zero Gaming and Renegades, and South America representative FURIA, have also received branded explosions.
Goal explosions are the latest inventory to be sold in the Esports Shop, a bid by the developer to increase the attractiveness of participating in Rocket League. In October 2021, the shop started selling team-themed decals users can purchase for their cars.
Earlier this year, Psyonix introduced ‘Away decals’, a second set of esports team skins where esports organisations’ sponsors are allowed to be featured on the in-game skins themselves — arguably a first in esports.
The news comes ahead of the RLCS 2021-22 Spring Major taking place in London from June 29th-July 3rd, the final LAN event before the RLCS World Championship in Texas in October.
