According to a new report from CDL Intel on Wednesday, the Call of Duty League is planning to revert its previous decision regarding major events in 2022. The report indicates that the CDL has decided to include all 12 teams at each major. Previously, the league decided to only have eight teams at the five majors. These teams would be decided through three weeks of online matches. The four teams that placed the lowest in the standings after the three-week period would be left out of that specific major.
When the CDL announced the format for the 2022 season, this was one of the most unpopular decisions. Many of the fans felt that if a major was going to be played on LAN, which they all will be, then every team should be in attendance. While it didn’t seem like the league agreed when they released their initial format, it appears as though community feedback has altered their opinion.
CDL to alter its decision on majors for 2022
Having all 12 teams compete at major events was a main part of the format last season during Black Ops Cold War. No matter how poorly a team played during a stage, they got the chance to compete at that stage’s major. This led to some shocking upsets, such as Seattle Surge defeating Atlanta FaZe in the loser’s bracket in Stage 5.
There was no clear reason outlined as to why the CDL decided to make the change to eight teams per major. The league has made it known they want regular-season matches to weigh heavier on teams, however.
If the report about the CDL reverting their decision is true, then it’s unclear how the format/schedule of each major will now work. The league has said the loser’s bracket for major events is a thing of the past but that could change given the new developments. It should also be noted that CDL Champs, the end-of-season event where a champion is crowned, will still only have eight teams in attendance.
The first major of the 2022 CDL season will be hosted by OpTic Texas sometime in late February – early March. The CDL unofficially kicks off the 2022 season with the Kickoff Classic on Jan. 24 at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
