Pixel P&L: Why Rocket League Hasn't Hit the Big Time in Esports

Good Morning. It’s Wednesday, July 17. In today's feature story, we explore the turbulent journey of Rocket League as an esport. We also highlight the newly announced partnership between TVS and Orangutan Esports, delve into Apple's antitrust probe in India, and cover other significant developments.

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Rocket League, the high-octane vehicular soccer game, was once hailed as the next big thing in esports. With million-dollar events and a loyal fanbase, it seemed destined for greatness. So, why hasn't it taken off?

Despite its explosive start in 2015, Rocket League has faced numerous hurdles. The most recent outrage? The Gaimin Gladiators team was caught practicing in a makeshift bathroom during the Blast Rocket League Major. Yes, you read that right—a bathroom!

Controversies and non-payment scandals have plagued the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS). From prize money delays to dubious business practices, the game's competitive scene has struggled to keep up with its rivals. Despite being out on the market for almost ten years, it is still far from achieving the same prestige as esports giants like League of Legends or even PUBG: Mobile.

In Michael’s latest feature, he explores whether Rocket League is doomed to be just a "could-have-been," or if it can rise from the ashes and finally take its place among the esports elite.

TVS Motor Company has partnered with Orangutan Esports, marking its second consecutive year supporting the team as the official mobility partner for NODWIN Gaming’s BGMI Masters Series. The series, starting on July 19th, will be broadcast on Disney Star Sports and YouTube.

This continued partnership underscores TVS's investment in the rapidly growing esports sector. Last year, with TVS's backing, Orangutan’s BGMI team came within a point of winning the championship. This year, hopes are high as the team enters the competition with a new roster.

The collaboration highlights a strategic alignment between a traditional motor company and the dynamic world of esports. TVS's engagement reflects broader trends where established brands seek to tap into the esports audience, a demographic that has shown robust growth in viewership and engagement.

Apple Faces Antitrust Probe in India Over iOS App Store Practices

India's antitrust body, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has found that Apple misused its dominant position in the iOS app store market. A confidential report seen by Reuters reveals Apple's practices have sparked an investigation. Despite Apple's denial of wrongdoing, claiming it is a minor player in India's Android-dominated market, the CCI asserts that Apple wields "significant influence" over digital products and services through its iOS platform and App Store. The report emphasizes that app developers are forced to comply with Apple's terms, including its proprietary billing system. Senior officials will review the report, with potential fines and directives forthcoming. Globally, Apple faces similar scrutiny, including from EU regulators under the Digital Markets Act.

Honda Partners With Twitch Rivals

Twitch Rivals, the tournament series operated by live streaming platform Twitch, has partnered with Japanese automotive marque Honda. Starting July 18th, viewers can digitally customize a 2025 Honda Civic through Twitch chat polls in a new segment called ‘Chat’s Civic Mods.’ The final design will be showcased at TwitchCon 2024 in San Diego from September 20-22.

Samsung's Hosts Second Edition of #PlayGalaxy Cup

Samsung hosted the second edition of its #PlayGalaxy Cup on the new Galaxy Z Fold6, reaching over 150 million users. The event, livestreamed on July 11 across Samsung.com and major gaming platforms, was also broadcasted in over 100 Samsung exclusive stores nationwide. Featuring India’s top gaming talents like Naman “Mortal” Mathur and Payal Dhare, the competition highlighted the Galaxy Z Fold6's enhanced display, processing power, and cooling system. In a fierce battle on Battlegrounds Mobile India, the "Delhi AI Legends" team claimed victory

Apple Used YouTube Videos Without Consent to Train AI Models

Apple has used YouTube content to train AI models without creators' consent, according to a Wired report. Subtitle files from over 170,000 videos, including those by Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), MrBeast, and PewDiePie, were harvested by the non-profit EleutherAI. These files, part of a dataset called the Pile, were used by companies like Apple, Nvidia, and Salesforce, despite YouTube's policies against such practices.

Did you know that Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) almost had three major story expansions, including one named "Agent Trevor"? According to former Rockstar developer Joseph Rubino, the planned DLCs were canceled due to the immense financial success of GTA Online. Rubino, who worked on the "Agent Trevor" DLC, revealed that it was meant to feature Trevor as an undercover agent working with the feds.

Rubino shared that the team's focus shifted when GTA Online became a massive hit. The popularity and revenue generated by GTA Online made it difficult to justify continuing standalone DLCs. Despite his disappointment, Rubino noted that elements from the canceled expansions were integrated into later updates of GTA Online.

Interestingly, this aligns with comments from Trevor's actor, Steven Ogg, who also mentioned the planned storyline for Trevor. He described it as a James Bond-esque arc where Trevor, despite his chaotic nature, was trying to work undercover. However, this intriguing plotline never saw the light of day.