Disclaimer: This is a speculative piece, with potential ideas for Worlds 2020 based on previous World Championships. As of writing, none is set in stone, and this piece should not be taken as fact.

We’re halfway through the year, and the days are getting closer towards the annual Worlds 2020. While there are no significant details about the event yet—save for the fact that it will be physically hosted—we are assured that the League eSports team is doing everything to make Worlds just as memorable as the rest.

With all of the different World Championships we have celebrated, especially the most recent 10-year anniversary and the Mid-Season Streamathon, it begs the question: what can Worlds 2020 look like?

The Official Song/s

A staple of the World Championship, and quite the surprise for a gaming company, the song releases during Worlds is quite the banger. Most song releases mirror the competitive spirit that is felt by the different regions’ top teams, who all want to claim the title of World Champion.

This year, given the global battle against the pandemic, the theme of rising up and claiming victory (seen in Worlds 2018 and 2019 songs “RISE” and “Phoenix”) can no longer simply mean destroying the enemy’s Nexus. The battle is now fought across the world, with everyone inside and outside the League community, against a common enemy with the coronavirus.

A Largely Digital Experience

One thing’s for sure: China will be hosting Worlds 2020, with the finals venue set on Shanghai Stadium. However, with the uncertainty of the pandemic, it is likely that the majority of the attendees will have to settle on digital streaming platforms like Youtube and Twitch to witness Worlds 2020.

Therefore, the League eSports organizers’ job is now to make a global tournament that will be mostly enjoyed online—potentially one of the biggest of its kind in eSports history. With the same organizers that pulled off the Elder Dragon stunt in Worlds 2017, the community is more than likely to experience a great time.

The Opening Ceremonies

Speaking of the Elder Dragon stunt, a tournament is never complete without a remarkable opening ceremony to start things off. In 2018, we saw Riot’s producers conduct a “mixed reality” performance with their own K-Pop band, K/DA, using holograms and the artists who sang the iconic “Popstar”. The following year, they took the mixed reality to another level with a completely new artist group with True Damage. Not only are their songs amazing, but their visual prowess was extremely captivating to both live and virtual audiences.

It is no question that an excellent opening ceremony will keep the audience on their toes for what could be next. To make the most out of the potential lack of a live audience, this is a new challenge for the organizers to wow the people at home at a similar or better degree.

The Competition

Of course, the main reason for watching Worlds is to watch your favorite teams try their best to become the World Champion. Worlds 2020 is incomplete without the cream of the crop from every region.

Fortunately, the recently concluded Mid-Season Streamathon has given us a glimpse of how an online tournament (think Clash) can happen among the professional scene. Ping is an unlikely concern, as the Mid-Season Cup (LCK versus LPL) organizers have set up the tournament to make 30 ping the stable standard. As we’ve seen, there were no complaints from the players on any lag, which is hopeful for further tournaments hosted by Riot Games.

The outlying issues are still a possibility, such as technical errors and game-breaking bugs, but we think that years of tournament hosting have prepared the organizers to make an almost flawless tournament system.

Concluding Thoughts

Nothing is set in stone, and Riot always manages to outdo their previous years’ performances and tournament hosting. No one but the organizers knows what kind of spectacle will they pull off. Whether you’re a casual or a veteran, Worlds is always a spectacle to watch with the recent upsets of Korea not making it to Finals for two straight years.

With a full-scale global tournament still in Riot’s minds, the idea of a tournament with mostly virtual audiences, Riot is likely to be the first to host a tournament with such magnitude. They could make history once again, and set an example for the large-scale tournaments that are annually held that wants to adapt to the new normal of tournaments.

How do you imagine would Worlds 2020 turn out? Are you hoping to be able to physically attend Worlds 2020 if permitted? Let us know!