An enormous change is going on to the largest regional esports competitors for Free Hearth. Taking inspiration from the likes of VALORANT and PUBG esports, Garena has announced that the Brazilian Free Hearth 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 Hearth esports in Brazil had top-of-the-line codecs for any esports title all over the world. It’s because it had created a league system consisting of three tiers which had a promotion and relegation format.
These three tiers had been Sequence A, Sequence B, and Sequence C. Sequence A was the highest tier and featured the perfect groups competing in an offline venue throughout a number of weeks for the title. Sequence B and Sequence C gave probability to lower-level groups and in addition served as a scouting floor for the highest groups. Between Sequence A and Sequence B, there was a Promotion League. This featured the underside groups from Sequence A and the highest groups from Sequence B combating for a spot on the highest degree.
This method not solely ensured a relentless stream of occasions for Free Hearth followers in Brazil but additionally ensured a relentless growth of latest expertise. It additionally inspired extra gamers to comply with Free Hearth esports because the format gave extra possibilities to aspiring professionals.
Whereas Garena will doubtless proceed internet hosting some type of lower-tier competitions, the closing of the LBFF will nonetheless have an effect on the general ecosystem. It’s because there have been many tier-two organizations which supported decrease expertise within the Sequence B and Sequence C. With no clear promotion format, they could be dissuaded from providing this important assist anymore.
Free Hearth esports is dealing with a fall in viewership
The astounding progress tales of Free Hearth and its esports scene occurred as a result of Garena targeted on constructing the group 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 Hearth esports is witnessing a fall in viewership globally. The FFWS Bangkok, for instance, witnessed a >90 percent fall in viewership since its 2021 peak.
The LBFF has been no exception. Since 2021, all LBFF Sequence A tournaments have recorded a fall in viewership.
With curiosity in Free Hearth esports dwindling, Garena’s resolution to make the LBFF closed is a questionable one. As an alternative of making an attempt to develop and assist the scene from the bottom degree, it’s closing off the top-tier match.
Nonetheless, the viewership for Free Hearth esports continues to be robust. The earlier season of the LBFF Sequence A peaked at almost 200,000 viewers. Having a closed league additionally has plenty of 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.
