Riot Games has officially announced that they will be launching MENA servers later in 2024, and will also allow teams from League of Legends (LoL) Esports and players from Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Esports to participate in the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh. This decision comes as Riot aims to enhance the gaming experience in the region.
Although the EWC is not a Riot-produced event and Riot will not be involved in team selection or production, they see the potential in such events for impact and commercial opportunities.
Riot’s main motivations include providing a meaningful esports experience for fans in the MENA region, giving financially struggling teams more opportunities to compete internationally, and improving overall financial stability through increased prize pools. The company plans to closely monitor this year’s EWC to assess the benefits to pro teams and players worldwide.
Additionally, Riot will begin Arabic localization this summer, making adjustments for linguistic nuances and technical adaptations. The launch of local servers will also help reduce latency and improve the gaming experience.
The EWC has secured major esports titles for the tournament lineup, with Riot Games being one of the final additions. With games like TEKKEN 8, Street Fighter 6, Fortnite, and now League of Legends included, the EWC is poised to become one of the most prominent esports events in history.
