Riot Games, League of Legends developer and tournament organizer, has decided to expand the Pacific Championship Series to the Oceania region.
“Starting in 2023, the League of Legends Pacific Championship Series (PCS) ecosystem will expand to include the League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO). The LCO will continue to play its domestic season in Oceania (OCE). However, rather than qualifying directly to MSI and Worlds, the top two teams from each LCO split will seed into the PCS playoffs and compete with other PCS teams for a chance to represent the larger region at international events,” noted the Riot statement.
Residency status will also be impacted by these changes. Currently, OCE players are considered resident players for import rule purposes in both OCE and North America (NA). At the end of calendar year 2022, every OCE player who has signed with a League Championship Series (LCS) or LCS Academy team at any point (including those signed between this announcement and the end of 2022), will have the option to declare themselves as a resident of either the PCS or the LCS.
Riot warns that it is a one-time option.
“Going forward, OCE players will be considered exclusively PCS residents. That means they can join any team within the PCS ecosystem without being considered an import player, and that LCO teams can sign players from other PCS teams without those players being considered import players in OCE. Future OCE players and players who have the option but do not elect LCS residency will be considered import players on LCS rosters,” Riot reported.
