Riot Games Unveils New Americas League Format for 2025, Expanding Competition and Fan Engagement

Riot Games has announced a major overhaul for the League of Legends (LoL) esports scene in the Americas, set to take effect in 2025. The new Americas League will bring together the strengths of the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA, uniting the North and South conferences under a three-split format aimed at enhancing competition, growing fan engagement, and improving regional performance on the global stage.
The league’s innovative structure features distinct purposes for each split. Split 1 will kick off with a dynamic tournament, allowing teams to introduce themselves through the Fearless Draft format. Split 2 will offer a more traditional format, giving teams time to refine strategies while deepening fan connections. Split 3 will ramp up the intensity as teams compete in high-stakes matches, leading to a final LAN event where the best teams vie for slots at Worlds 2025. The top teams from both conferences will also come together twice a year to compete in cross-conference LAN events for international tournament seeding, adding an extra layer of excitement.
The restructuring doesn’t stop at the top. Riot Games is also reinforcing its Tier 2 ecosystem to provide a clearer path for aspiring pro players. The Tier 2 system will consist of four leagues: North America’s NACL, Brazil’s CBLOL Academy, and newly introduced leagues for Latin America—Liga Regional Norte (LRN) and Liga Regional Sur (LRS). These leagues will follow a two-split format, with a promotion tournament at the season’s end allowing top teams to earn a one-year slot in the Americas’ Tier 1 league.
The Full Fearless format, which has received positive feedback in regions like North America and Brazil, will be adopted across all Tier 2 leagues, further enhancing competitive play and talent development. The new system is designed to give players and teams a sustainable and competitive path to Tier 1, promoting the development of regional talent.
Riot Games is optimistic that these updates will usher in a new era for LoL Esports in the Americas, blending the rich legacy of the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA with fresh competition and fan experiences. Further details, including branding and Tier 1 team announcements, will be revealed in the coming months as the 2024 season concludes and the new structure prepares to launch.