LCS changes give fans and players hope ahead of crucial 2024 season
There's some big news coming out of the North American League of Legends community. The new season of the League of Legends Championship Series will be an eight-team affair, with Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses choosing not to renew their franchises, thus shuffling out the back door soon after a record-breaking Worlds 2023.
The LCS has recently been in quite a lot of turmoil, with Riot Games at odds with the players in the region. It is well-known that the league has been going through a decline in viewership, international results, and funds, leading to logistical and operational issues, including in its competitions.
Things came to a head in the summer when League of Legends Championship Series Players Association members conducted a walkout in May, a mere two weeks before the LCS Summer 2023 was to begin. What led to this move was Riot Games removing the obligation for teams in this region to compete in the NA Challengers League. Feeling betrayed by a decision made without their consultation, the LCSPA disclosed that the organizer had assured zero changes until 2024 but failed to abide by it.
Soon after, seven out of ten teams' academy sides disbanded as lengthy negotiations between the two parties raged on. It was finally decided that the LCS would start two weeks later than the initial scheduled date. Riot Games and the LCSPA then reached an understanding to start the tournament on June 14 with the added note that they were in discussions over multiple crucial matters concerning player protection and the NACL model.
Going a little further back for those unaware, the LCSPA got a reboot in 2021 to 'maintain the integrity of players' participating in the LCS and the North American Challengers League (NACL). This body was committed to improving the lives and well-being of professional gamers participating in these two tournaments and providing them with chances to make it big in the esports world.
Hence, when Riot Games announced that LCS sides need not field academy lineups, this came as a shock to the NA ecosystem. After all, many upcoming academy league players' careers were put at significant risk thanks to this decision. What made things worse was the fact that despite receiving a substantial budget of $3M from Riot Games, sides in this region could not raise enough funds to sustain their academy teams.
Of course, this did not sit well with the LCSPA, who came down hard on the organizer and the various organizations for this short-sighted decision. The association even came up with initiatives for the former to improve the NACL and LCS, including a "Valorant-style" promotion and relegation system between these two events to promote competition and develop young talents that would more or less secure the future of North American LoL.
However, Riot ignored these requests, leaving players with no option but to vote in favor of a strike mere days from the most prominent event in the region's calendar. They received support from the global community, with the widespread positivity acting as another blow to the Riot’s plans, leading to a temporary resolution that saw the LCS Summer 2023 being conducted.
Recent updates point to attempts from all parties to work toward a brighter future
On November 20, John Needham, President of Esports at Riot Games, posted an update about the LCS 2024 season for fans via social media and the official website. He mentioned it would become an eight-team competition, with Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses exiting via "mutual decision."
LCS 2024 Update - John Needham pic.twitter.com/CmnMmTfgxN
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) November 20, 2023
It confirmed rumors from a few days back suggesting that team owners and Riot held a meeting about reducing the number of sides in the North American League of Legends tournament. Needham said:
“This change will allow us to be much more flexible as we prepare to restructure the league for future success. We made this change before free agency that begins today to allow impacted players the ability to pursue opportunities with other teams or leagues.”
He added that none of the two sides were forced out, as has been the talk around some online forums. During an interview with League of Legends creator Travis Gafford on November 21, Needham revealed:
"The way our partnership agreement works is when we offer one team something, like terminating and settling out their partnership agreement, we have to offer it to all teams. We did that. We offered it to all ten teams. Only Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians accepted our offer, the other eight teams reaffirmed their commitment to the LCS."
He signed off by saying that Riot would get together over the next few months to chart out a plan for the 2024 LCS season.
"We will spend the next two or three months figuring out where we are going with the LCS beyond 2024."
While this information might come as a beacon of hope to fans of the region, TSM, another org that had decided to quit the LCS over the summer, confirmed that move, with Shopify Rebellion acquiring its spot in the league for a reported $10M. One of the most popular esports sides in the world is also allegedly considering moving base, with the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) touted as the likeliest destination.
We'll see you at the #LCS Arena in 2024. pic.twitter.com/9ZZAUmMEBA
— Shopify Rebellion (@ShopifyRebels) September 20, 2023
Moreover, most rosters have gone into a full rebuild mode, meaning many pros, including some successful ones, have been rendered without teams.
It will be intriguing to see how each side lines up at the start of the next season when all is said and done during this historic and crucial off-season. Until then, fans will be glued to their phones and computers to get updates on the status of the LCS and how it will look for the 2024 season. All eyes will be on Riot, the various organizations, and the LCSPA over the next few weeks and months.
Detailed Esports data at your fingertips.
Subscribe to & start exploring!
