Riot Games is overhauling the League of Legends esports ecosystem starting in 2025. The modifications include a common split schedule for all regions and a reduction in the number of teams in Tier 1 competitions.
Starting next season, League esports will begin its competitive year with the Winter Split, followed by an undisclosed third international event, the Spring Split, the Mid-Season Invitational, and the Summer Split and World Championship.
Riot also unveiled a first look at the new regional structures coming to League esports next year, which include several tier-one leagues merging with their closest neighbors, including an LCS, CBLOL, and LLA merger.
The new structure will introduce a three-split model to all areas, encouraging higher levels of competitiveness and showcasing regional stars on a global scale via a conference system.
In sports, a conference system usually divides clubs into groupings based on geographic regions or competitive levels, allowing regular-season play within each conference. Teams compete within their conference and may play inter-conference matches, with the top teams advancing to playoffs or championship tournaments.
Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Japan, Vietnam, and Oceania will be combined into a single multi-region league called League’s APAC.
Because of the reduced number of teams, some long-standing organizations may not be able to compete in the newer league forms. As a result, the 2018 Summer Split may be the last opportunity to witness some of these teams compete at the greatest level, providing a tragic edge to the season’s matchups.
Just six months ago, the North American LCS decreased its team count from ten to eight, but the new model will result in more teams leaving the area.
These dramatic changes will redefine the landscape of the professional League for the foreseeable future, but whether they will aid or hinder its growth remains to be determined.