League of Legends pros in NA will now get a low ping solo queue called Champions Queue and compete in a new LCS format in 2022. Riot announced these two shake-ups to the competitive League scene and pros could anticipate a very different look when they return to the stage next season. Ultimately, these changes aim to create a more competitive scene in North America, following the region's continued lackluster performance internationally. Here's everything you need to know about the updated LCS format and how NA teams can qualify for Worlds.

2022 LCS Format: What's new?

Before we dive into the changes to the LCS format, we'll highlight first what's staying. For 2022, fans can look forward to the Lock In preseason tournament taking place once again. All the action will unfold from January 14 to January 30. The preseason competition had proven successful last year as a way to get an early look at the different teams and ramp up for the season ahead. Plus, we're going back to LAN with Lock In slated for the LCS Studios in Santa Monica, California.

When the LCS Spring split begins on February 5, though, fans will have to remember that each team only gets to play each other twice per season. That's quite a bit less than before, effectively reducing the total number of games played per split. The regular season will still be best-of-one games.

Supposedly, according to Riot's explanation, the lowered number of games intends to “help combat player burnout while delivering more meaningful matches for fans.” Whether this will be good for the league is yet to be seen. After all, the other regions like the LPL and LCK, the two top regions in the world right now, play multiple games per matchup.

This also means that the broadcast days will be shortened. Each week will only have two match days—on the weekend—except for two designated super weeks that will consist of three match days.

Finally, the Spring and Summer split standings will also be separated next season. In the past (prior to 2021), they had always been distinct in the first place, but the community had largely complained that it made the Spring split meaningless. Last year, Riot combined the two splits' standings so teams would have an overall or cumulative record.

What is Champions Queue?

Meant to improve pro player practice, Champions Queue will be coming to League of Legends solo queue on the NA servers, at least for the pros. The infamous NA solo queue concern has hampered the growth of pros in the region, with the long waiting times and often not so serious gameplay.

As such, Riot will introduce Champions Queue as an exclusive matchmaking system hosted on west coast servers. It will be on lower ping than normal solo queue and only “high-skill” or “top-level” players can access it. Thus, only LCS and Academy players can be expected to play against one another in this system.