Esports broadcast operator Raidiant announced this week that it is working closely with developer Psyonix (an Epic Games company) to launch Star Chasers Showdown, a Rocket League tournament for women and marginalized genders. Taking place across two weekends in October, the event aims to “showcase the brightest emerging talents from the North American and European Women’s Rocket League scenes.”
Star Chasers Showdown will invite up to 32 teams across North America and Europe with “women-identifying rosters,” and offer an amateur bracket for teams that advance to the main event. Individual players will also have the chance to participate through a “dedicated free agent pool,” with the goal of facilitating team building, while up-and-coming casters and analysts will also have an opportunity to get involved.
The competition series will offer a total prize pool of $30K USD. Star Chasers Showdown will feature a grand final for the amateur bracket before the main event grand finals, giving new players a moment in the spotlight.
Ultimately, the goal of Star Chasers Showdown is to show some respect to women and marginalized genders that are in esports-whether that’s players, coaches, on-air talent, and the community that supports them.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent within the Rocket League community and create a platform for inclusivity and empowerment, said Raidiant Founder Heather Garozzo in a release. “With Raidiant’s high-quality tournament operator capabilities and our ability to put on world-class broadcast productions, ‘Star Chasers Showdown’ will be a pivotal moment in esports. We can’t wait to showcase the passion and dedication of these remarkable players.”
Tournament Details:
Qualifier: Oct. 14 – 15
Main Event: Oct. 28 – 29
Broadcast: Twitch.tv/RocketLeague and Twitch.tv/RaidiantGG
Registration Announcements: Discord.gg/Raidiant
Raidiant is a division of New Meta Entertainment, the parent company of esports organizations Dignitas. The company was launched in 2022 with the goal of helping to grow the number of competitions in the calendar year that give opportunities to women and marginalized genders. Raidiant currently works with Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, and Psyonix, and other stakeholders to create these kinds of opportunities.