A giant change is occurring to the most important regional esports competitors for Free Fireplace. Taking inspiration from the likes of VALORANT and PUBG esports, Garena has announced that the Brazilian Free Fireplace League (LBFF) will turn into a closed league in 2023, that includes solely invited groups.
The LBFF 2023 will begin on April 15 and conclude on Aug. 5. Whereas Garena has termed this variation as “a brand new period,” we check out what this implies for the sport and the questionable timing behind this transfer.
LBFF 2023: A closed league means fewer grassroots-level tournaments
For sure, Free Fireplace esports in Brazil had probably the greatest codecs for any esports title all over the world. It is because it had created a league system consisting of three tiers which had a promotion and relegation format.
These three tiers have been Collection A, Collection B, and Collection C. Collection A was the highest tier and featured the most effective groups competing in an offline venue throughout a number of weeks for the title. Collection B and Collection C gave likelihood to lower-level groups and likewise served as a scouting floor for the highest groups. Between Collection A and Collection B, there was a Promotion League. This featured the underside groups from Collection A and the highest groups from Collection B preventing for a spot on the highest degree.
This technique not solely ensured a relentless stream of occasions for Free Fireplace followers in Brazil but in addition ensured a relentless improvement of recent expertise. It additionally inspired extra gamers to comply with Free Fireplace esports because the format gave extra probabilities to aspiring professionals.
Whereas Garena will seemingly proceed internet hosting some kind of lower-tier competitions, the closing of the LBFF will nonetheless have an effect on the general ecosystem. It is because there have been many tier-two organizations which supported decrease expertise within the Collection B and Collection C. With no clear promotion format, they may be dissuaded from providing this important help anymore.
Free Fireplace esports is going through a fall in viewership
The astounding development tales of Free Fireplace and its esports scene occurred as a result of Garena centered on constructing the neighborhood from the bottom up. That is additionally what contributed to the FFWS Singapore 2021 turning into one of many most-watched esports tournaments in historical past. It achieved a peak viewership of greater than 5.4 million viewers, per Esports Charts.
Nevertheless, since that peak, Free Fireplace esports is witnessing a fall in viewership globally. The FFWS Bangkok, for instance, witnessed a >90 p.c fall in viewership since its 2021 peak.
The LBFF has been no exception. Since 2021, all LBFF Collection A tournaments have recorded a fall in viewership.
With curiosity in Free Fireplace esports dwindling, Garena’s choice to make the LBFF closed is a questionable one. As a substitute of trying to develop and help the scene from the bottom degree, it’s closing off the top-tier event.
Nonetheless, the viewership for Free Fireplace esports remains to be sturdy. The earlier season of the LBFF Collection A peaked at almost 200,000 viewers. Having a closed league additionally has numerous advantages for the groups. It presents stability to them and higher leverage to draw manufacturers and sponsors.
Solely time will inform, nevertheless, if the choice to make the LBFF a closed league will repay. Garena has mentioned that it is going to be revealing extra particulars within the coming weeks.