Worlds 2023 is drawing to a close. A winner will be chosen, offseason roster moves will escalate, and League of Legends season 14 will commence, paving the path for Worlds 2024.
Worlds 2023 is unique in that Riot Games changed the format for the first time in history. It has been replaced with a Swiss format instead of Groups. The concept helped to set up matchups and create narratives that give fans many reasons to tune in. During Media Day, Riot’s Global Head of League of Legends Esports, Naz Aletaha, said that viewership has increased by 65% year over year.
While the structure has been successful on many fronts, Riot Games is already planning some changes for next year.
Worlds Swiss stage: achievements and potential alterations for 2024
According to Naz Aletaha, the Swiss stage has been a success, providing more balanced matches and increasing fan excitement.
This format contrasts with prior group stages, which featured a random grouping of teams. The only regulation was that teams from the same region may not participate in the same group.
Because of the unpredictability, stronger teams were frequently placed together, preventing some of the top teams from advancing to the knockout stages.
The Swiss stage, on the other hand, allowed for more equitable matchups by pitting teams against opponents with the same win-loss record.
This system allowed teams capable of defeating a diverse range of opponents to compete and advance, while other teams eventually dropped out.
The Swiss stage, on the other hand, couldn’t totally escape the element of chance. After each round, draws were held to determine team pairings. Unfortunately, clubs from the same region were pitted against each other, much to the chagrin of spectators.
Riot took notice, and one of the adjustments being discussed for 2024 is avoiding interregional matches, particularly after round one. They are also thinking about how to avoid rematches.
The management team also talked about expanding the fan experience. Riot announced the Worlds Unlocked bundle in 2023, which contains a mix of actual items and upgraded experiences.
These include unique access to online events like Media Day, which was previously only available to media and influencers.
According to John Needham, the package has been extremely popular, particularly in North America and Europe. Riot intends to provide additional experiences at Worlds 2024.
Other revenue-generating options for League of Legends teams are being considered. For the time being, all teams are guaranteed 50% of income and get a percentage of esports content and prize pools from international competitions. This revenue-sharing model will be expanded during the regular season.
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