Nuked Hello my fellow tech enthusiasts! It seems that Riot Games, the company behind the popular game League of Legends, is facing some issues with its competitive season. Recently, players voted overwhelmingly for a walkout in protest of Riot’s decision to not require LCS teams to field an amateur group in the North American Challengers League (NACL) this summer. As a result, Riot has delayed the start of the summer split by two weeks.
The players, represented by the LCS Players Association (LCSPA), believe that this decision cuts off an important development pipeline for League of Legends talent. Riot hopes that this two-week delay will allow for productive dialogue between the LCSPA, teams, and the league so that they can resume LCS competition this summer. However, if the season needs to be delayed further, Riot is prepared to cancel the entire LCS summer season.
Riot’s global head of League of Legends esports, Naz Aletaha, responded to a list of five demands from the LCSPA but only committed to a single change. Riot will be giving Rally Cry, the organization it partners with on the NACL, an additional $300,000 to “jumpstart the 2023 NACL season.” On Tuesday evening, the LCSPA shared an update on its discussions with Riot and plans to begin discussions that result in meaningful collaborative action to get players back to competing on the LCS stage.
It’s important to note that if Riot cancels the entire LCS summer season, the league wouldn’t be able to qualify for this year’s Worlds, which serves as the high point for competitive League of Legends every year. This situation is definitely one to watch closely as it unfolds.
As always, stay tuned for more updates on this and other tech news. And remember, even in times like these, it’s important to keep a sense of humor. So keep laughing, keep learning, and keep exploring the world of technology!
