When you hear ‘League of Legends’, what comes to mind? A nostalgic memory from your teenage years, or a competitive eSports title still holding its ground in 2023? The gaming landscape has evolved tremendously over the last decade, with new genres and platforms taking center stage. So, it begs the question: is League of Legends still a thing? For those who’ve lost touch with the game or curious newcomers, this article seeks to answer that question, analyzing the game’s trajectory and current standing. By shedding light on how Riot Games has adapted to changing trends, we aim to guide both former players and eSports enthusiasts alike in understanding the enduring relevance of League of Legends.
The Birth and Rise of League of Legends
For those unfamiliar with MOBA games, here’s a basic review. MOBA, which stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, is a popular genre where players engage in isometric battles from a helicopter perspective. The battleground comprises three primary lanes, each featuring defensive towers, and is separated by a jungle filled with static NPCs. In the most common mode, two teams, each consisting of up to 5 players, clash with the ultimate objective of demolishing the opponent’s central structure in their base.
At the start of the game, players must carefully choose one champion out of a vast pool (League of Legends currently boasts 163 champions), each possessing unique abilities. The role and tactical approach of your team will determine the optimal character selection. Generally, there are three lane roles – top lane, mid lane, and bottom lane – along with the jungler, who roams the uncharted territories between the lanes to provide assistance, and the support role, who aids the team where their expertise is most required. These role dynamics form the bedrock of the game.
League of Legends, the pioneer of the MOBA genre, emerged from the minds of college students Marc Merrill and Brandon Beck, who founded Riot Games. They aimed to create a refined successor to the highly popular “Dota” mod for Warcraft 3. After three years of development, they debuted the game at conventions on October 27, 2009.
The early stages of League of Legends were marked by an exploration of its identity. Champion kits required balancing, and the graphics seemed outdated. Nonetheless, the game displayed potential, and it gradually evolved.
As the gaming market expanded, so did the competition. Over time, League of Legends attracted a growing number of players, even if they weren’t initially drawn to it. By 2011, LoL esports had already taken root, but little did the fledgling company know the magnitude of success their game would achieve.
League of Legends: A Game Changer in eSports
Since its release, League of Legends has rapidly soared to become one of the most popular games worldwide, captivating players in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America alike. Its influence extended far and wide, giving rise to competitive events and leagues, enabling professional gamers to focus entirely on honing their skills to be the very best. According to Riot Games, the game garnered a staggering 15 million players within just over a year of its launch in 2011, with an astonishing rate of ten new games starting every single second. This mind-boggling figure showcases the vast scope and immense potential of the gaming realm.
The inaugural international tournament, known as the Season 1 World Championship, took place at DreamHack in 2011. To this day, this tournament remains the pinnacle of League of Legends competitions across the globe. Last year, the championship drew a colossal viewership of 100 million people, with an average of 21.8 million viewers per minute and a peak concurrent viewership of 44 million. Yes, that’s right – an astounding 44 million people watching the game simultaneously. Apart from the World Championship, League of Legends hosts other major international events annually, such as the Mid-Season Invitational and the All-Stars, each contributing to the game’s grand spectacle. Additionally, several regional competitions, tournaments, and leagues thrive, with the most prominent being LEC, LCS, LCK, and LPL – the premier leagues of Europe, North America, South Korea, and China, respectively. These diverse regions often showcase distinct metagames, leading to captivating clashes of unique gameplay when international competitions occur.
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement of Riot Games with League of Legends is its enduring appeal even after eleven years since its inception. The game continues to attract a steady influx of new players, while larger and more thrilling competitions are continually unfolding. This perpetual relevance is achieved through constant updates and changes to the game. Almost every two weeks, Riot Games releases a new balancing patch, adjusting Champion abilities, items, game mechanics, and systems to keep the gameplay dynamic and engaging. Additionally, they periodically refresh the visuals to maintain a fresh and contemporary gaming experience. Furthermore, new Champions are introduced at regular intervals, breathing new life into the game and shaping the ever-evolving meta. Riot Games has adeptly navigated the shifting landscape of the gaming world, ensuring League of Legends remains an enduring and immersive phenomenon.
Challenges and Triumphs
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the League of Legends (LoL) esports system. Riot Games, as the organizer of many global leagues, faced the challenge of ensuring the safety of players and staff during the pandemic. Chinese LPL was the first to encounter the virus, resulting in the suspension of the tournament due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
Leagues in Asia responded by holding audience-free matches, starting with LCK, and other competitions like PCS and CK also suspended their matches. In the West, Riot Games took quick action, initially forbidding players and staff from interacting with fans and later transitioning to audience-free formats for LCS and LEC.
The Mid-Season Invitational was postponed, leading to discussions about changing participation rules, as teams would be prohibited from replacing members after the event. In March, many regional leagues switched from LAN to online formats due to the pandemic. Major leagues like LCS, LEC, and LCK also adopted “home matches” to maintain the schedule.
Despite the changes, esports proved to be an adequate replacement for traditional sports during the pandemic, given the audience’s increased time spent at home. Certain leagues, like LCL, had an easier time adapting to quarantine measures because they were already structured for online play.
The Covid 19 pandemic also gave made mobile games so popular because most people can’t go out because of the mandatory quarantine, so most gamers shifted on mobile gaming. But Riot Games don’t see this a hindrance, instead, they immediately adapt and and develop their own version of mobile games called LoL:Wild Rift. Creating millions of dollars in revenue, and attracting millions of fans around the world, this bold step can be considered as a huge success.
The Future of League of Legends: Longevity in a Changing Landscape.
After 11 years in the since it’s establishment, The future of LoL still looks promising, with many tournaments and events around the world like World Championship, Mid Season Invitational, LEC, LPL, LCK, PCS, VCS, CBLOL, LJL, and LLA fans around the world are always excited to play and be a part of the event.
After launching WildRift, which is a huge success, League of Legends seems like to stay, so the fans and supporters don’t need to worry about LoL not being a thing anymore. Riot Games promise to create new champions and enhance the game more so the players can enjoy better. New patch happen every once in a while to ensure the balance in the game.
With an uncertain future, Riot Games keeps us guessing about their next moves. League of Legends, the widely acclaimed game, has already ventured into diverse arenas: digital card games, comic books, merchandise, music videos, and now, an animated series on Netflix. The possibilities for the franchise seem boundless.
Riot Games’ remarkable adaptability and continuous relevance have been key to their extraordinary success. By consistently engaging and satisfying players, fans, and viewers alike, League of Legends appears set to commemorate a second decade of unparalleled achievements. The journey ahead promises to be just as exciting and dynamic as it was in the past.
