Riot Games and the AFL are set to take Oceanic esports to the global stage with a new business proposal titled OPLX.
Fireball Esports can reveal the proposed tournament format is set to take place on League of Legends’ Howling Abyss map, with the Poro King game mode set to be at the core of the new competition.
Some key rule changes have already been set:
- Poro Snacks Game Changer: after two towers have fallen on the Howling Abyss, the Poro King has double damage, as well as a health boost, and minions killed are worth double experience and gold.
- 10-Man Rosters: Upon a player’s death on the Abyss, that player will be subbed out for the next player in line.
- Pentakills have been replaced, and will now be referred to as ‘Zooper Kills’.
With the proposal still in the development process most of the team branding for organisations entering the competition have yet to be finalised, but Fireball Esports can also confirm the new format will take on an NBA All-Stars flavour. Four captains will be nominated, with these leaders than drafting their teams. There will also be a New Zealand-only limit placed on one squad.
Proposed club names in the pipeline currently include Claire’s Clutch Gamers, Rogue’s Renegades, Destiny’s Dunkmasters and Rae’s Kiwis (Limited to New Zealand players only).
An unnamed source from Riot’s Oceanic office confirmed the proposed format was in the works, and revealed the reasoning behind Riot Games’ new competition.
“We think the proposed format like the sorely missed dominion game mode could be fast and fun,” they said. “We’ve seen with T20 cricket that millennials have too short an attention span to follow just one format of a game. We’re appealing to a younger demographic that we feel like could take off globally in regions like China and South-East Asia.”
The AFL were approached for comment, but did not respond within the set deadline.
More to come as news breaks on the upcoming OPLX.
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