Electronic Arts (EA) and Respawn Entertainment announced the Apex Legends Preseason Invitational, a large scale esports tournament featuring the collection of competitive talent ever for an Apex Legends event. Held 13 to 15 September in Kraków, Poland, 80 teams (three players per team) from around the world will compete in a bracketed tournament for a prize pool of US$500,000.
“When we started the EA Competitive Gaming Division, we had the vision to make stars of all our players as we build an entertainment spectacle that captivates millions of players and spectators. Today we officially expand EA Competitive Gaming through the addition of Apex Legends, owner of one of the biggest game launches in history that continues to be powered today by a passionate global community. The Apex Legends Preseason Invitational is the key next step in our esports journey,” said Todd Sitrin, SVP and GM of the EA Competitive Gaming Division.
“Competition is in the DNA of Apex Legends and this competitive event will showcase the game at its highest level. This Apex Legends Preseason Invitational advances our vision towards a robust competitive experience with the community at the centre. We continue to explore all the entertaining ways both players and spectators can experience Apex Legends and look forward to bringing this event to life,” said design director Chad Grenier.
All teams will begin the double-elimination tournament in the winner’s bracket. In each round, a team’s performance in a set of matches will determine whether they continue in the winner’s bracket, fall to the losers bracket, or are eliminated from the tournament until the final 20 teams compete for the title.