On top of announcing the launch of the MENA servers later in 2024, Riot Games will allow LoL and TFT teams to participate in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
Image Credit: Riot Games
Riot Games to include its games in the Esports World Cup
In an official statement by the company, Riot explained it will allow teams from League of Legends (LoL) Esports and players from Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Esports to participate in the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh. The announcement comes in combination with the launch of the MENA-dedicated servers, as the company is trying to further boost the gaming experience in the region.
While the EWC is not an official LoL Esports event and Riot is not involved in production or team selection, their decision came after acknowledging the unique impact and the commercial opportunities that can arise from such events.
Riot explained one of their core motivations was to offer a meaningful esports experience to fans, particularly in the MENA region. Additionally, Riot wanted to give teams struggling financially additional chances to compete internationally and secure better financial stability through increasing prize pools. According to Riot, the company wants to monitor this year’s edition of EWC to evaluate the overall tournament experience, assess the benefits to pro teams, and better understand the value of EWC to players worldwide.
The Arabic localization begins this summer
Riot mentioned that adjustments will be made to accommodate linguistic nuances and technical adaptations for right-to-left text display. Moreover, local servers will be launched to reduce latency, which is part of the company’s goal to deliver and ensure a better experience across the world.
The EWC has been able to add major esports titles to the tournament, with Riot Games being one of the last to confirm their inclusion. The list now includes TEKKEN 8, Street Fighter 6, EA Sports FC 24, Rocket League, Fortnite, Free Fire, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Brawl Stars, StarCraft II, Overwatch 2, Counter-Strike 2, Honor of Kings, and Dota 2, among others. Now the League of Legends is also part of the EWC, the event is set to become one of the most packed festivals in the history of esports.
This article was originally published here
