KSI debuts as first ‘Original’ in PS5 game GOALS

KSI appears as the first ‘Original’ character at launch in GOALS, a free-to-play football game released for PlayStation 5 today. The title is available to download on PS5 now.

The developer described Originals as characters “visually authentic to their real selves, but evolving as they progress, meaning no two Originals will ever be the same.” KSI is listed as the inaugural Original and will be available when the game launches.

The announcement follows KSI’s departure from the Sidemen, the seven-member YouTube group he had been associated with for 13 years. He framed his exit as a decision to spend more time with family and his partner. Since leaving the group, video clips have shown him taking part in a public stunt at a supermarket, and in interviews he expressed ambitions to grow his audience and compared his goals to those of MrBeast. Some viewers publicly criticized those actions and the timing of his exit.

Developers did not detail how players will unlock the KSI Original at launch. GOALS includes a premium in-game currency, but launch materials did not confirm whether the KSI character will be available for free, tied to player progression, or offered for purchase.

Promotional footage released by the developer shows gameplay and highlights the Originals system, which allows characters to change visually and in capabilities as players advance. The game presents itself as multiplayer-focused and emphasizes skill-based competition and community play.

The Sidemen collective did not provide any comment in the game’s launch materials. KSI’s public profile spans music, boxing, entrepreneurship and long-running online content; his inclusion adds a recognizable figure to GOALS’ roster at release.