Riot addresses the rumours surrounding LCS
The LCS, the top League of Legends league in North America, is allegedly being neglected in favour of other leagues and competitions inside the Riot Games ecosystem. This is just one of many rumours and complaints that have been circulating throughout the North American League of Legends community. This opinion is based on the belief that League of Legends’ creator, Riot Games, is prioritising the expansion and development of other leagues above the LCS, including the LEC (European League of Legends Championship) and the LCK (Korean League of Legends Championship).
Riot dismisses the rumours
The leadership of Riot Games has dismissed recent reports that other leagues and competitions in its ecosystem are being prioritised over the LCS. John Needham, the firm’s president for esports, has publicly stated that the corporation has invested more than $250 million into the LCS and expects to see further expansion. Riot’s continuous dedication to the LCS and its growth is demonstrated by this statement. The LCS, according to John Needham, is the second-highest revenue-producing league in the local esports industry. This indicates that LCS is still regarded as an essential component of the business’ esports ecosystem and that it continues to produce a significant amount of income.
LCS Viewership
The LCS viewership has been steadily declining over the past three years. According to Needham, the league is now the fourth most watched league overall, with certain weekends seeing a slide to fifth place.
During the 2022 Summer Split, as compared to the LCS, more viewers tuned in on average to watch the LCK and LEC games live at the same time. Due to its passionate fan base, the Brazilian league (CBLOL) also has a high average concurrent viewership. This indicates that while the LCS has a sizable audience, the LCK and LEC are even more well-liked when it comes to Live concurrent viewership, and the CBLOL is another league that attracts a lot of interest from its fanbase.
The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) drew fewer viewers on average (81,000) than Brazil’s top league. The LCS will feature brand-new characters and plotlines this year, as well as a revamped schedule with games on Thursdays and Fridays at 4 PM CT.
Conclusion
These rumours have caused concern among the North American League of Legends community, as they feel that their region is being overlooked and not given the same level of investment and support as other regions. This has led to calls for Riot Games to take action and address these concerns, in order to ensure that the LCS remains a competitive and successful league.