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Rocket League’s latest update (v2.54) has quietly introduced a massive feature that’s already making waves, admin controls in private matches. While it might not sound flashy at first, this change is a big win for grassroots esports organisers, streamers, and the broader Rocket League community.

What’s New?

Private match hosts now have full Match Admin access. That means they can:

  • Pause games mid-match
  • Adjust in-game time and score
  • Restart matches from kickoff
  • Automatically pass admin control to the next player if the host leaves

These features were once exclusive to RLCS tournament admins, but now anyone can use them in private lobbies.

Why This Matters for Community Esports

In the past, many small tournament organisers (TOs) or community figures had no way to pause games or fix issues when things went wrong, such as a player disconnecting. Now, organisers running online qualifiers, charity events, or amateur leagues can finally maintain competitive integrity without needing official RLCS access.

“Great update for community figures, streamers, smaller TOs or just anyone who could make good honest use of it.” – a Reddit user 

But There’s a Catch…..

While this opens up huge possibilities, some players are also worried about potential abuse. Since hosts now have the power to change scores and match flow, it creates room for cheating or drama, especially in unsupervised tournaments.

Reddit users pointed out that in open qualifiers or cash cups, shady players could manipulate the system. And unless Psyonix has a proper audit log to track changes, things could get messy.

“Potential catastrophic implications… there are a lot of ways to exploit this system.” – a Reddit user 

Still, most agree this was long overdue and a huge W for the community, provided clear rules and safeguards are in place.

What Organisers Should Do Now

If you’re planning to host Rocket League events, here’s what you should keep in mind:

  • Clearly define rules for using admin powers (only pause if a disconnect happens)
  • Nominate trusted hosts to avoid abuse
  • Record matches if possible for transparency
  • Stay updated with any RLCS rulebook changes

Expect Psyonix to roll out clearer guidelines soon, especially for bigger open tournaments.

Whether you’re a casual organiser or a semi-pro team, this update changes the game, quite literally.