TL;DR
- ALGS Year 5 introduces a new format with the ALGS Open, featuring 160 teams.
- Pre-season qualifiers start on February 22, 2025, with four single-elimination tournaments per region.
- Legend bans will be introduced to encourage diverse gameplay.
- The competition is consolidated into four regions: Americas, EMEA, APAC North, and APAC South.
- Prize pool distribution has been expanded to include more teams.
- POI drafting and Championship points are new features for the season.
Introduction to ALGS Year 5
The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) has unveiled its roadmap for Year 5, bringing exciting changes to the competitive landscape. The new season promises to shake things up with fresh features, revised formats, and a larger-than-ever tournament setup. Let’s dive into the details of what’s new and what fans can expect.
Pre-Season Qualifiers: The Gateway to Pro League
The journey to the ALGS Year 5 championship begins with pre-season qualifiers, scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 17, 2025. These qualifiers will consist of four single-elimination online tournaments per region. Teams will compete in their respective regions, with the top performers earning a spot in Split 1 Pro League and the inaugural ALGS Open.
| Region | Qualifying Teams for ALGS Open |
|---|---|
| Americas | 16 |
| EMEA | 8 |
| APAC North | 8 |
| APAC South | 8 |
Registration for these qualifiers is now open, giving teams ample time to prepare and secure their place in the upcoming events.
The ALGS Open: A New Era of Competition
For the first time in ALGS history, the ALGS Open will kick off the LAN events, featuring a record-breaking 160 teams. This monumental event will include:
- 120 pro teams from around the globe.
- 40 teams directly qualifying from the pre-season tournaments.
The tournament will follow a double elimination bracket format, culminating in a Match Point Finals. The stakes are high, with a $1,000,000 prize pool and Championship qualification points on the line. Additionally, the top five teams from this event will secure their spots in the Mid-season playoffs.
Legend Bans: Shaking Up the Meta
In a bid to diversify gameplay and test players’ skills, Legend bans will be introduced across all ALGS Year 5 tournaments. Here’s how it works:
- All Legends are available at the start of each series.
- After each match, the Legend with the highest pick rate is banned for the remainder of the series.
- If an entire Legend class (e.g., Skirmisher, Recon) is banned, the longest-banned Legend is reintroduced.
This system aims to keep the meta fresh and challenge teams to adapt their strategies.
Region Consolidation: Streamlined Competition
Starting this year, the ALGS will operate under four consolidated regions:
- Americas: Combining North and South America.
- EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).
- APAC North.
- APAC South.
This change aligns the ALGS with the BLGS (Base Legends Global Series) format, ensuring a more unified competitive structure.
Prize Pool Distribution: More Teams, More Rewards
The $5,000,000 overall prize pool will be distributed more widely in Year 5. Previously, only the top 20 teams received payouts, but now:
- The ALGS Open will reward the top 40 teams.
- Both the Mid-season playoffs and Championship will include the top 30 teams.
This expansion ensures more participants benefit from the prize pool, fostering a more inclusive competitive environment.
POI Drafting and Championship Points
To maintain competitive balance, POI drafting will be introduced in Pro League qualifiers and Last Chance qualifiers, mirroring the setup of LAN events. Additionally, Championship points (formerly Playoff Points) will now be awarded to individual players rather than teams. Players must participate in at least ten matches during the pre-season qualifiers and Challenger Circuit to be eligible for these points.
Map Pool Expansion: New and Familiar Battlegrounds
The map pool for ALGS Year 5 includes:
- Broken Moon: A new map joining the rotation.
- World’s Edge and Storm Point: Fan favorites returning.
- E-District: A fresh addition to the pool.
Notably, the pre-season qualifiers will feature World’s Edge and Storm Point exclusively, giving teams time to adapt before the full map pool is introduced in later stages.
About the Game
