League of Legends ushering in a new era of eSports

Rich Bloomfield
August 7, 2012 11:54 am

Riot Games, the developer behind the most played PC game in the world, League of Legends, has given out details on their vision of the future of eSports. Starting at the beginning of next year, the best League of Legends player from around the world will gather to compete in the Championship Series, a new league of teams from around the world who will compete in season matches each week. The matches will also be broadcast through streaming HD for free globally.

“Talking to players around the world, they repeatedly asked if we could kickLeague of Legends eSports into higher gear,” said Brandon Beck, co-founder and CEO of Riot Games. “The new League of Legends Championship Series is our answer. Millions of fans tune in every time we support a major League of Legends tournament, so we’re broadening that support in an unprecedented way.”

League of Legends Championship Series key facts:

Global Operations: The top eight teams from both North America and Europe, plus top teams from Asia, will compete for regional and global dominance.
Millions of Dollars on the Line: Salaries, prize pools and other compensation for Championship Series teams will ensure League of Legends is a sustainable career choice for professional players.
Regular Season and Playoffs: eSports fans will get to see teams battling in the traditional format of organized sports – a regular season with several matches per week, culminating in regional playoffs and a World Championship, which will crown the world’s best League of Legends team.
Free, HD broadcast events: League of Legends fans will watch Championship Series matches live online with HD broadcast streaming that is always 100% free.

Additionally, the top three teams from the upcoming Season Two North American and European Regional competitions will pre-qualify for the league. Check out the announcement trailer below and be sure to let us know what you think down in the comments section.

Meet Rich Bloomfield

Rich is the Editor-in-Chief of Nizulo. He enjoys long slow walks on the beach, puffy little bunnies, cuddles, snuggling, and spooning. He also has a passion for listening attentively, massaging, and cheese. Yep, he's one cheesy guy!