A Fresh Start for the Ninjas

Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) have officially unveiled their brand-new Rocket League roster for the upcoming Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2026 season, and fans are already buzzing.

The Swedish esports organisation announced that Cristian “crr” Fernández Raigal, Joris “Joreuz” Robben, and Ole “oaly” van Doorn will be joining forces under the NIP banner. The team will be coached by Lachlan “LBP” Parker, who’s stepping in after a successful run with Chiefs Esports Club across 2024 and 2025.

IT’S OFFICIAL. BOBBY JR HAS BUILT OUR 2026 ROSTER! 🐷🔥

Say hello to our new ninjas: @OalyRL, @rl_crr, and @Joreuz 🚗💨
With @Coach_LBP leading the charge from the sidelines.#GONINJAS pic.twitter.com/Mz55FtMGya

— NIP Rocket League (@NIP_RL) November 7, 2025

The reveal, which went live on NIP’s official social channels, was headlined by the caption: “BOBBY JR HAS BUILT OUR 2026 ROSTER!”, a nod to the organisation’s general manager, who’s quickly become a fan favourite within the community.

Meet the New Ninjas

Each of NIP’s new recruits brings a wealth of experience and momentum from the 2025 season:

• Joreuz previously represented Dignitas, where he helped the team secure a second-place finish at the RLCS 2025 Raleigh Major, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s most mechanically gifted players.
• crr, the Spanish prodigy, competed with Complexity Gaming throughout 2025, making appearances at both the Birmingham and Raleigh Majors.
• oaly, who joins from Geekay Esports, had a standout season that included a runner-up finish at the Esports World Cup. Geekay even sent their best wishes on social media, saying, “Take good care of him fellas.”

Together, they form a strong European trio with a balance of youthful energy and tournament experience, exactly what NIP needs heading into a new competitive year.

A New Chapter After a Clean Slate

This announcement follows a complete roster reset for NIP. The organisation parted ways with its previous players and coaching staff on October 3rd, 2025, signalling a full rebuild in preparation for 2026.

During the 2025 season, NIP showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to maintain consistent top-tier finishes. Despite falling short in earlier majors, the team made a powerful late-season comeback, winning the RLCS 2025 European Last Chance Qualifier by defeating Team BDS 4–1 to earn a spot at the World Championship.

At Worlds, NIP held their own, finishing seventh overall and bowing out to Karmine Corp in the lower bracket playoffs. It was a solid showing, but one that clearly motivated the organisation to refresh its Rocket League lineup and aim higher in 2026.

Looking Ahead to RLCS 2026

The Rocket League Championship Series 2026 kicks off on November 14th, and all eyes will be on NIP’s new lineup to see how the revamped squad performs against some of the world’s best.

With Coach LBP at the helm and a roster stacked with proven talent, Ninjas in Pyjamas look poised for a strong showing. As their announcement boldly stated, “Bobby really cooked this one.”

Fans can only hope the new recipe leads to trophies.

The post Ninjas in Pyjamas Rebuilds Rocket League Roster Ahead of RLCS 2026 Season appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) is back with big plans for 2026, and BLAST has just revealed the full roadmap for the new season. Fans can look forward to fresh tournaments, tighter roster rules, and the addition of 2v2s alongside the classic 3v3 format.

Roadmap teaser for #RLCS 2026:

🔸 Season to start on November 14th, 2025
🔸 Kick off studio LAN in Copenhagen, December 5th-7th
🔸 Major 1 will take place in North America in late February
🔸 Split 2 to span from March-May 2026
🔸 All new 2v2 circuit in addition to 1v1
🔸 2026… pic.twitter.com/N1RnoTEwoN

— Shift (@ShiftRLE) September 14, 2025

RLCS 2026 format stays familiar, with new twists

The core 3v3 competition remains at the heart of RLCS, but 2026 is bringing more variety to the circuit. Each region will once again battle through three online Opens per split, followed by a Major LAN at the end of each split. That’s six Opens and two Majors before the season heads towards the World Championship.

On top of that, 1v1s are returning, and for the first time ever, RLCS will feature a full 2v2 circuit with its own Opens and LAN appearances. It’s a move that’s set to shake up the competitive landscape and bring new strategies to the forefront.

Kick-Off LAN debuts in Copenhagen

The season will get underway with a brand-new event, the Kick-Off LAN. Running from December 5–7, 2025 at BLAST’s Copenhagen studio, the tournament will showcase 12 teams in a close-proximity setting. Not only will it serve as the finale for the first Open, but the winner will also secure a guaranteed spot at Major 1 and earn their region an extra slot at Major 2.

Image Credit: Rocket League Esports

This will be the first true test of international strength before the Majors, making it a must-watch for Rocket League fans.

Roster eligibility tightened

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the new roster lock rules. From now on, teams must field a majority of players who are residents or citizens of the region they’re competing in.

That means two out of three players on a standard roster must qualify under these rules, and for four-man rosters with a substitute, three of the four must meet the eligibility requirements.

According to BLAST, this adjustment is designed to keep regional play competitive and fair while still allowing international talent to shine.

Key dates for RLCS 2026

Here’s the season schedule as it stands:

• Season start: November 14, 2025 (NA & EU), November 15 (SAM & APAC), November 21 (MENA), November 22 (OCE & SSA)
• Kick-Off LAN: December 5–7, 2025 (Copenhagen)
• Major 1: February 2026 (North America)
• Major 2: May 24–26, 2026 (Paris, La Défense Arena)
• 1v1 & 2v2 Opens: June–July 2026
• Last Chance Qualifiers: July–August 2026
• World Championship: September 2026 (six-day event)

The World Championship will again feature the 16 teams with the most RLCS points, joined by four squads from the Last Chance Qualifiers and winners from the 1v1 and 2v2 Opens.

A bigger and bolder season ahead

With the addition of 2v2 competition, the introduction of the Kick-Off LAN, and a World Championship stretched to six days, RLCS 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons yet. Fans won’t have long to wait, as the action officially kicks off this November.

The post RLCS 2026 Roadmap Revealed: Kick-Off LAN, Paris Major, and New 2v2 Format appeared first on Shane the Gamer.