Spartacus

World Championship VIII (also known as Discovery Season 8 and the 2024 season) will be the upcoming eighth season of BattleBots since its return to television in 2015, and the sixth season since the Discovery network picked the show up from ABC.
In January 2023, BattleBots initially confirmed on their official website that they planned to film World Championship VIII in the summer of 2023 after the first wave of BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon live shows. In Episode 52 of the Outside of the Box podcast, co-creator and producer Greg Munson originally stated that attention would begin gearing towards filming for World Championship VIII around May.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDvZldW5mUY Trey Roski stated in a Skorpios Builder Blog episode that plans were to film in October 2023.EVERYTHING We Know About Battlebots Season 8
However, filming will take place later than the previous season due to the need for Koval Lane, the street on which Caesars Palace is located, to be reworked ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix race on November 16-18, 2023. https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/Las_Vegas.html At the Open Sauce event in July 2023, BattleBots co-founder Greg Munson confirmed that World Championship VIII would begin filming in early 2024.https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/140pj1h/the_rumor_mill_for_battlebots_world_championship/jsdx4qg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2 The BattleBots website was then updated to reflect this.https://battlebots.com/wcviii/ Trey Roski set an estimated date of April 2024 for World Championship VIII filming in a November 2023 Skorpios Builder Blog episode, though the season has not yet been green-lit by Discovery.
The Fight Night format and Top 32 Giant Nut bracket are both expected to return for World Championship VIII. Tickets are not yet available for the competition, and it is not yet known when applications will be accepted. It is currently unknown whether a third season of BattleBots: Champions will be filmed concurrently with World Championship VIII.
Co-hosts Chris Rose, Kenny Florian, ring announcer Faruq Tauheed, judges Derek Young, Lisa Winter, Fon Davis, referees John Remar, David Sanfilippo, Kathryn Godfrey and Match Steward Mike Jeffries are all expected to return for World Championship VIII. Adam Wrigley is also expected to return for World Championship VIII not only as a competitor, but also as C.R.A.B. (Combat Robotics Association of BattleBots) president.
It was confirmed that the banners featuring past BattleBots champions will return, and SawBlaze's banner will be revealed.
In September 2023, Greg Munson confirmed Manta as the first accepted competitor to World Championship VIII in an episode of the Behind the Bots podcast.Behind the Bots - BattleBots Champions II Preview with BattleBots Co-Creator Greg Munson! A month later, an episode of the Skorpios Builder Blog revealed plans to weld the seams between panels of the BattleBox floor together and potentially introduce a brand new hazard.The Deepest Look Inside The BATTLEBOX! This idea was originally teased during the June 21, 2023 edition of the Rick Rubin podcast with Greg Munson and Trey Roski, which consisted of teams adding weaponry to the existing pulverizer hammers, and was reiterated in greater detail in a November 2023 Skorpios Builder Blog episode.Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin - BattleBots: Greg Munson and Trey RoskiWe Reveal BATTLEBOTS NEWEST HAZARD! (Seriously!!!)
An update confirming discussions with Discovery to green light World Championship VIII was issued via email on December 27, 2023. Although it did not confirm filming dates, the statement explained several of the pushbacks and stated intention to update with further news in 2024.
== Rule Changes ==
=== Code of Conduct ===
Though not yet confirmed, Greg Munson revealed in a March 2023 RoboCast episode that the idea of penalties to punish teams thought to be showcasing poor sportsmanship has been considered. He also stated that an official Code of Conduct was being written as a collaboration between Match Steward Mike Jeffries and C.R.A.B. (Combat Robotics Association of BattleBots) president Adam Wrigley.https://youtu.be/bbHV28a0l1I?t=6967 It will serve as a 'pledge' for competing teams to abide by ahead of the World Championship season.
=== Changes to the BattleBox ===
In September 2023, Munson stated changes to the BattleBox would solely concern safety and maintenance ahead of the season, and the arena would receive no new or removed hazards. This includes the Upper Deck, which has had mixed receptions since its introduction in 2021.
The BattleBox floor has been welded across its seams in an attempt to remove as many catch points as possible. This change began in mid-November 2023, as seen in Facebook post by BattleBotshttps://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=737750641731682 and was in effect for the December 2023 BattleBots Proving Ground fights between Magnitude and HyperShock. 
=== Meltybrain Designs ===
BattleBots producers have liaised with Team LiftOff, who entered Daedalus and Icarus into World Championship VII, over stipulations for allowing meltybrain designs into a regular season. According to Greg Munson, the team plan to bring a heavyweight meltybrain multibot into BattleBots Proving Ground called Red and Blue.
==Applicants==
Please note that the following lists are subject to change as new information is revealed. All edits to the lists below must be sourced in the appropriate column:
=== Accepted Applicants ===
Robots and teams who have been informally 'accepted' for World Championship VIII.
Robot 	Team 	Image	Source 	Notes
Manta 	Team Tanto Robotics	 	Behind the Bots podcast	RoboGames 2023 champion. 
2-0 record at Proving Ground in June 2023.
FrankenBot	Team FrankenBot 	 	Behind the Bots podcast	BattleBots Storybooked
===Confirmed Applicants===
Robots and teams which have confirmed their submissions and applications to World Championship VIII, and are awaiting acceptance or rejection.
Robot 	Team 	Image	Source 	Notes
Copperhead 	Caustic Creations 	 	Reddit 	Reigning BattleBots semi-finalist. 2024 version will be a full rebuild.
Disarray 	Wildcat Robotics 	 	EI Inde articleApplication video	3-5 record at Proving Ground.
Maharana 	Team XENON 	 	Instagram 	Team from India.
Max Q 	North Street Labs 	 	Application Video 	New entry from the Hot Pizza team.
Monsoon 	Team Monsoon 	 	Reddit 	Made Top 16 last season.
Ogrekill 	Team All-Star 	 	Facebook 	Multibot designed and built by a UK super team.
Orbitron 	Team Orbitron 	 	Application video and website 	Uses AI software to attack autonomously. 2-2 record at Proving Ground.
Roundhouse 	RoboGym Robotics 	 	Facebook 	From the Deadlift team. 2-0 record at Proving Ground in August 2023.
Samurai 	Bowltech Robotics 	 	Reddit 	Brazilian undercutter.
SHREDDIT BRO!	Team Shreddit 	 	Evan Arias on Reddit 	Reached the Golden Bolt tournament in BattleBots: Champions II.
Skorpios 	Bot Bash Party Crew 	 	Skorpios Builder Blog 	Made Top 32 last season. Former Bounty Hunter. 2024 version will be a brand new build.
Spartacus 	Sinclair Robotics 	 	Reddit 	Previously competed in Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors.
Sucker Punch 	Heidenhain Robotics 	 	Reddit 	Second application as King Crunch was rejected. Was registered for RoboGames 2024 but withdrew.
Switchback 	Team Midnight Invention 	 	Greg Needel on Discord 	Made Top 32 for the first time last season. 1-1 record against Swamp Thing and Hellfire at Proving Ground.
Subatomic 	Bots 'n' Stuff Robotics 	 	Application Video 	From the Bloodsport and Retrograde team. Withdrawn to focus on Fireball and Bloodsport.
Terrortops 	Team Terrortops 	 	Ben Burton on Discord 	Robogames 2023 semi-finalist. 2-0 in last season's alternate fights.
The Twins 	Seems Reasonable Robotics	 	Outside of the Box Ep.78 	Multibot entry from former Giant Nut winners. 0-1 record at Proving Ground. Design not finalised.
===Rumored Applicants ===
Robots and teams whose intention to compete in World Championship VIII has been either stated or heavily inferred in the way of design developments or comments from team members.
Robot 	Team 	Image	Source 	Notes
Apex 	Team Danby 	 	Discord 	0-3 record at Proving Ground.
Banshee 	Team Small Robots 	 	Reddit AMA 	4-0 record at Proving Ground.
Big Dill 	Team Food Fight 	 	Reddit AMA 	Narrowly missed out on Top 32 last season despite a 1-3 record.
Black Dragon 	Team Uai!rrior 	 	Instagram and YouTube 	Made Top 16 last season. Former Desperado Tournament champion.
Blacksmith 	Team Half Fast Astronaut 	 	Facebook 	Slugfest finalist in BattleBots: Champions I.
Bloodsport 	Bots 'n' Stuff Robotics 	 	Facebook Post 	Made Top 32 last season. 1-1 record at Proving Ground.
Captain Shrederator	Team LOGICOM 	 	Nick Nave on Reddit 	First complete redesign in 20 years.
Claw Viper 	Team Bad Ideas 	 	Reddit AMA 	Made Top 32 for the first time last season.
Cobalt 	Robotic Death Company 	 	Reddit AMA 	Made Top 32 last season.
DeathRoll 	Team DeathRoll 	 	Reddit AMA 	Made Top 32 last season.
Defender 	Team Fast Electric Robots 	 	Reddit AMA 	Competed in RoboGames 2023 under the name King Crab.
Emulsifier 	Bots FC 	 	Reddit AMA 	Second entry from the team behind Shatter!. 30lb version became NHRL World Championship in November 2023.
Fireball 	Bots 'n' Stuff Robotics 	 	NHRL Discord server 	Features dual flamethrowers. 1-1 record at Proving Ground.
Fusion 	Team Whyachi 	 	YouTube Livestream 	Made Top 32 last season. 2024 version features an eggbeater drum spinner.
Gigabyte 	Robotic Death Company 	 	Reddit AMA 	2-0 record at Proving Ground.
Glitch 	Combat Robotics at Berkeley	 	Reddit AMA 	2021 co-Rookie of the Year.
Gruff 	Team Gruff 	 	Reddit AMA 	Seeking to improve reliability ahead of a potential fifth season. Applied for RoboGames 2024 but withdrew.
Horizon 	Team Horizon 	 	Dylan McKenzie on Discord 	1-1 record at Proving Ground.
HUGE 	Team HUGE 	 	Reddit AMA 	Reigning BattleBots runner-up.
Hydra 	Team Whyachi 	 	YouTube Livestream 	Reigning BattleBots quarter-finalist.
JackPot 	Vegas Combat Robotics 	 	Reddit AMA 	Made Top 32 last season. 3-2 record at Proving Ground in July, September and October 2023. Sin City Slugfest IV winner.
Kraken 	CE Robots 	 	Reddit AMA 	Potential second season for Matt Spurk's redesigned Kraken.
Lucky 	TKO Robotics 	 	Reddit AMA and Facebook 	Made Top 32 last season. Competed in RoboGames 2023 under the name Ziggy Jr..
Malice 	Team Malice 	 	Instagram 	Made Top 16 for the first time last season.
Minotaur 	Team RioBotz 	 	Reddit AMA 	Reigning BattleBots quarter-finalist. 2018 season BattleBots runner-up.
Ominous 	Team Ominous 	 	Reddit AMA 	Only Dutch competitor last season.
HexaStinky 	Team MAD 	 	Facebook and Reddit 	Former The Christmas Mermaid champion.
Railgun MAX 	Team Atom 	 	Instagram 	China's most successful BattleBots competitor.
RIPperoni 	Omega Team 	 	Reddit AMA 	Only rookie robot to make it to the Top 32 last season. Sin City Slugfest V winner.
ROTATOR 	Team Revolution 	 	Facebook 	Former Most Destructive Award winner and Bounty Hunter.
SawBlaze 	Team SawBlaze 	 	Reddit AMA 	Reigning BattleBots champion and Golden Bolt runner-up.
Shatter! 	Bots FC 	 	Reddit AMA 	Made Top 32 last season.
Slammo! 	Team Danby 	 	Instagram 	4-2 record at Proving Ground.
Starchild 	Omega Team 	 	Reddit AMA 	Second entry by the team behind RIPperoni.
Tombstone 	Hardcore Robotics 	 	Reddit 	2016 season BattleBots champion.
Traves T. 	Team 2x4 	 	Kurt Krueger at BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon	3-1 record at Proving Ground.
Triton 	Team Overboard 	 	Reddit AMA 	0-2 record at Proving Ground in June 2023.
Valkyrie 	Team VALKYRIE 	 	Instagram 	Potential return for former captain Leanne Cushing.
Witch Doctor 	Team Witch Doctor 	 	Reddit AMA 	Reigning BattleBots quarter-finalist. 2019 and 2021 season BattleBots runner-up.
Whiplash 	Team Fast Electric Robots 	 	Reddit AMA and Instagram 	Made Top 16 last season. 2020 season BattleBots runner-up. Sin City Slugfest II winner.
=== Rejected Applicants ===
Robots and teams whose intention to compete in World Championship VIII has been explicitly rejected.
Robot 	Team 	Image	Source	Notes
King Crunch	Heidenhain Robotics	 	Reddit	Team captain's father competed with Strange Brew in Seasons 4.0 and 5.0 of the Comedy Central show.
==Trivia== 
*The eighth reboot season of BattleBots will mark the longest stint of a robot combat show in the sport's history, eclipsing the original five televised Comedy Central BattleBots seasons, as well as the seven main series of the original UK Robot Wars before their respective cancelations. 
**Although there was no 2017 BattleBots season, the production team remained the same between 2016 and 2018, with Discovery simply adopting the show from ABC in the same year it was dropped.
**Additionally, World Championship VIII will be the sixth BattleBots season in a row to air on the same network, surpassing the number of seasons aired during the original Comedy Central run.
*World Championship VIII will become the second reboot BattleBots season to not be filmed the very next year after the previous season. The first time was World Championship III when it was filmed in 2018 instead of 2017 after the 2016 season.
==References==
Category:Competitions
Category:Reboot Era Competitions