The North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) is undergoing a period of significant upheaval. From the departure of iconic teams to a complete league overhaul on the horizon, understanding what's happening to the LCS requires unpacking a complex web of contributing factors.
At a glance:
- TSM, a founding organization and powerhouse of the LCS, has exited the league.
- Two more teams, Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses, also chose to leave the LCS.
- A new inter-regional Americas league is slated to launch in 2025, merging the LCS with CBLOL (Brazil) and LLA (Latin America).
- The shift aims to create a more competitive and financially sustainable ecosystem.
The End of an Era: TSM's Departure and Beyond
For many fans, the LCS was TSM. Boasting seven titles, more than any other organization, TSM's presence was synonymous with North American League of Legends. That's why it sent shockwaves through the community when TSM CEO Andy "Reginald" Dinh announced the organization's plans to transition to another tier-one region. On September 20, 2023, the news became official: TSM was no longer part of the LCS.
But why would such a cornerstone of the league leave? According to Reginald, the decision stems from TSM's unwavering ambition to win a World Championship. He believes that competing in a different region will "reignite our hunger to doing whatever it takes to win a world championship." TSM had explored the possibility of joining the LEC by acquiring Misfits' spot. The organization also updated fans about their ambitions to join a new LoL league in February 2024, saying that it is working toward "acquiring a League of Legends franchise slot… by the end of 2024."
TSM isn't alone in their departure. Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses also left the LCS at the end of 2023, shrinking the league to just eight teams. This reduction in competing organizations further emphasizes the monumental shifts impacting the LCS.
Following a Swedish Footsteps? TSM and the Allure of the LPL
Moving to the LPL is an appealing proposition, given the region’s massive player base and competitive strength. If TSM ends up moving to the LPL, they will follow in the footsteps of Swedish organization NIP, which acquired the Victory Five organization in August 2021, though they entered the league only in the Spring of 2023. The LPL's dominance on the international stage is undeniable; three of the last five World Championships — and four of the last five Mid-Season Invitationals — were won by LPL teams. The MSI 2023 grand final was even an all-LPL affair, featuring JD Gaming and Bilibili Gaming.
TSM had gone to every Worlds between 2011 and 2017 but only attended one of the last four events before selling its LCS slot. The team’s highest finish came at the inaugural World Championship, where they placed third. The organization also explored setting its sights on competing in the LPL.
Shopify Rebellion Enters the Fray
TSM's departure opened the door for a new player to enter the LCS: Shopify Rebellion. On September 20, 2023, Shopify Rebellion announced their acquisition of TSM's slot. While the exact fee remains undisclosed, reports suggest Shopify Rebellion invested around $10 million – half of what TSM initially paid for the slot.
The deal included TSM's roster, but Shopify Rebellion opted to retain only one player, Jason 'WildTurtle' Tran, as a substitute after the offseason concluded. This marks Shopify Rebellion's first foray into League of Legends esports.
More Than Just Bad Luck: Internal Struggles at TSM
While TSM's ambition for a World Championship certainly played a role in their departure, it's impossible to ignore the internal struggles the organization faced in recent years. The last two years have been one of the most troubling chapters in TSM’s history, not just on the LCS stage but also as an organization.
The FTX Fallout
The collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX had a major impact. In 2021, TSM announced a ten-year, $210 million naming rights deal with FTX, calling it "the biggest deal in the history of esports." However, the partnership was suspended in November 2022 after FTX filed for bankruptcy protection. Without a surprise, the company has taken a big financial hit from FTX’s collapse, and scaling back its esports program.
Accusations and Layoffs
Adding to the turmoil, TSM faced investigations into claims of verbal abuse and bullying by Reginald, as well as financial irregularities involving former coach Peter Zhang. Several high-profile employees subsequently left the company, including COO Walter Wang, VP of Esports Operations Dominic Kallas, and League of Legends General Manager Yang ‘Glen’ Po-Jen.
In March 2023, just a month after TSM withdrew from Rainbow Six, the Sports Business Journal reported that the organization was considering selling its LCS spot and pausing some of its esports divisions. The organization, like many esports companies, had massive layoffs in 2023 and has supposedly been reduced to under 10 full-time workers.
Moving to another region gives TSM the chance to wipe the slate clean, but it also comes with the risk of losing a sizeable portion of the fanbase they have built over the years.
The New Americas League: A Bold Vision for the Future
While the departure of key teams and internal struggles paint a concerning picture, it's crucial to understand the bigger picture: Riot Games' vision for a revamped League of Legends esports ecosystem in the Americas. lcs changes are on the horizon.
In 2025, a new Americas league will launch, merging North America’s LCS, Brazil’s CBLOL, and Latin America’s LLA into a single inter-regional league. The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) started way back in season three, and firmly took root from 2014 onwards as a premier professional esports league. In its 11th and final year, this marks the end of an era. As Valorant esports fans might be familiar with, this new league hopes to improve the competitive landscape.
Why Combine Regions?
Riot Games has outlined several key reasons behind this ambitious move. First and foremost, there's a clear demand for inter-region battles, as evidenced by the excitement surrounding international tournaments like MSI and Worlds. Second, CBLOL and LLA have demonstrated strong engagement, viewership, and fandom numbers, signaling healthy growth potential.
“We believe we have an opportunity to combine forces in a new Americas league that will be good for fans, teams, and pros,” Riot Games explained. “In this new proposed model, the LCS and CBLOL would now compete as North and South conferences.”
Structure and Scheduling
The new Americas league will adopt a synchronized global schedule, aligning with the other major leagues — LCK, LPL, LEC, and the new APAC league — in a three-split format. The splits will determine qualification for a new global tournament in March 2025, featuring one representative from each of the five regions.
- Split 1: Qualification for a new global tournament.
- Split 2: The top team from each North and South conference will secure a slot at MSI 2025.
- Split 3 (Americas Regional Championship): Determines the three teams that will qualify for Worlds 2025.
Team Composition
The league will consist of eight teams per conference (North and South), operating over the three-split season. The six partnered franchised teams will maintain their slots in their respective conferences. One LLA team will be included based on geographical alignment, and one "Guest Team" spot is reserved for promotion and relegation through the Tier-2 system.
Financial Sustainability
In essence, these adjustments are geared towards bolstering Riot’s financial sustainability objectives, particularly concerning the Global Revenue Pool (GRP). It’s recognized that this entails a reduction in the number of Tier-1 teams within the LoL Esports ecosystem.
Questions and Misconceptions
Q: Is the LCS dying?
A: While the LCS is undergoing significant changes, it's not necessarily "dying." Rather, it's being restructured as part of a larger initiative to create a more competitive and sustainable esports ecosystem in the Americas.
Q: Will this new league be better than the current LCS?
A: It’s too early to say definitively. The success of the new Americas league will depend on several factors, including increased competition, viewership numbers, and financial sustainability. Inter-regional play may create fresh rivalries and more compelling storylines for fans.
Q: What does this mean for North American talent?
A: The impact on North American talent is still uncertain. On one hand, a larger league could provide more opportunities for players to compete at a high level. On the other hand, the influx of talent from other regions could make it more difficult for NA players to break into the pro scene.
Q: When will we know more details about the new league?
A: Riot Games plans to unveil further details in the third quarter of 2024.
Navigating the Shift: What's Next?
The changes happening to the LCS are complex, but they ultimately represent an attempt to revitalize and strengthen the League of Legends esports scene in the Americas. Here are some things to keep in mind as the transition unfolds:
- Stay informed: Follow official announcements from Riot Games and esports news outlets for the latest updates.
- Be patient: Major changes take time to implement. It's important to give the new league a chance to develop and mature.
- Support your favorite teams and players: Whether they remain in the LCS or move to other regions, your support can make a difference.
The future of the LCS is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the landscape of North American League of Legends is evolving. Embrace the change, stay informed, and continue to support the teams and players you love. The future is bright, even if it looks different than what we’re used to.