Riot Games is reportedly contemplating an expansion of its League of Legends competitive landscape beyond its domestic borders, as indicated by a spokesperson in response to rumors about a potential sanctioning of a Saudi-backed third-party tournament for 2024.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia had unveiled the Esports World Cup in October 2023, slated to replace the Gamers8 tournament.
In a statement sent to journalist Jacob Wolf on the evening of January 2, Riot Games allegedly signaled a shift in its approach to third-party tournaments for League of Legends, possibly indicating a relaxation of its tight control over the game’s competitive ecosystem in the coming year.
The decision, it is suggested, was influenced by the success of the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, last September, where several Asian countries participated in various esports titles, including League of Legends, Dota 2, and EA Sports FC.
According to the report, Riot Games is considering permitting two teams from each of its top domestic leagues –LEC, LCS, LPL, and LCK – to participate in the Esports World Cup. However, the specific criteria for team selection have not been disclosed, leaving fans and players curious about the qualification process.
Chris Greeley, Riot’s Head of Global Strategy for League of Legends, has reportedly urged each league to halt any planned activities during the first week of July to accommodate the Esports World Cup. This move implies a potential reshuffling of the competitive calendar to prioritize this newly emerged international tournament.
If the Saudi-backed Savvy Gaming Group, organizers of the Esports World Cup, achieves their goal, it could mark the first large-scale League of Legends tournament outside Riot’s direct control since the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice in 2017.
The participation of teams in this event may potentially break the established norms and structures that have defined the League of Legends competitive scene in recent years.
As the esports community eagerly awaits further developments, only time will reveal whether the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup will obtain the necessary licensing before July 2024 or if another organization is prepared to organize and execute an international tournament within the same timeframe.