The State of the Game: LoL Esports in 2024
LoL Esports kicks off the new year with competitive changes, event updates, and more!
Welcome to League of Legends Season 2024! We can’t wait to kick off the 14th season of LoL Esports, and we’re here to share the latest updates.
GLOBAL COMPETITIVE CHANGES
Enhancing the stakes around competition is one of the goals that we have been focused on for our international events. In 2023, we made format changes to both MSI and Worlds that eliminated matches that did not contribute to the outcome of the tournament. For 2024, we want to continue increasing the stakes around MSI and want to create a stronger connection between MSI and Worlds.
This season, we will set a base of 3 Worlds slots for the LEC, LCS, LCK, and LPL. The PCS and VCS will each retain two Worlds slots, and the LLA and CBLOL will each retain one Worlds slot. With these changes, we will be introducing new ways for teams and regions to show their strength and earn additional Worlds slots through their performance at MSI.
For the first time ever, the winning team at MSI will be awarded a guaranteed spot at Worlds, which also counts as an additional slot for their region. The next best performing region at MSI will secure an additional seed for their region. To ensure that the team that qualifies early for Worlds remains committed to success in their home league, they must qualify for their region’s Summer Playoffs with the exception of the LEC, where the team would qualify for the LEC Regional Finals.
To use the MSI 2023 results as an example, JDG would auto-qualify to Worlds, allowing a total of 4 LPL teams to qualify for Worlds. And the next best performing region – the LCK in the case of MSI ‘23 – would secure an extra Worlds 23 seed, for a total of 4.
We’re hopeful that these adjustments will up the stakes and establish a meaningful throughline between the two tentpole moments across the LoL Esports season: MSI and Worlds.
MSI & WORLDS 2024 LOCATIONS
MSI 2024 will be held May 1-19 in Chengdu, China. This is the first time we’ve brought a global LoL Esports event to this vibrant city. Check back soon for updates on tickets, schedules, and more!
Last year in Korea, we announced that Worlds 2024 will return to Europe, with the Finals taking place in London, England, at the iconic O2 Arena. Today, we are ready to share where the other stages of the tournament will take place!
We’ll be kicking off Worlds in Berlin at the newly remodeled Riot Games Arena for the Play-Ins and Swiss Stages. Then, we’ll head to the Adidas Arena in Paris, France, for both Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
Worlds 2024 will take place from September 25-November 2, and we’ll be back throughout the year with updates on how you can get in on all the action.
HALL OF LEGENDS
As we embark on the 2024 season, we’re proud to commemorate 14 remarkable years of LoL Esports. Throughout this decade-plus, we’ve witnessed pro players from around the world leave their mark, displaying incredible resilience, mastery of League of Legends gameplay, and inspiring millions of fans across the globe. To celebrate those who have made a lasting impact on the game, the sport, and the community while concurrently honoring their legacies, we are proud to introduce the LoL Esports Hall of Legends.
There are a number of pro players worthy of being inducted into our unique version of a Hall of Fame. We gathered an independent voting panel of esports industry veterans and experts from every region to vote and select our very first inductee.
Each year, those inducted into the Hall of Legends will have their historic careers celebrated both IRL and in-game! We are currently collecting votes and will have more to share in the coming months, so stay tuned.
REGIONAL START DATES
And finally, our regional leagues are gearing up for the start of the 2024 competitive season:
- LEC: Jan 13
- LLA: Jan 16
- LCK: Jan 17
- PCS: Jan 19
- LCS: Jan 20
- VCS: Jan 20
- CBLOL: Jan 20
- LPL: Jan 22
Lots of great LoL Esports moments in store this season! GLHF on your own season start climb! Be sure to tune in to watch all your favorite regions compete at lolesports.com.
