With the mutual agreement between Riot Games and two major teams, Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses, the landscape of the LCS ( League of Legends Championship Series) will witness a significant change. Both teams have decided to withdraw from the LCS, reducing league participation from ten to eight teams.
This news comes as a result of the league experiencing decreasing viewership and lackluster results at global events over the years. The LCS and Riot Games confirmed this development, and it signifies a move towards restructuring the North American League of Legends competition.
Rumors about teams exiting the league started to circulate as early as November 18, following a meeting between owners and Riot. Talk of reducing the number of teams in the competition hinted at the drastic changes coming to the league structure.
Attempts to boost the LCS's visibility have been made previously, but none achieved the desired outcome. Changes included altering the broadcast days, modifying the league format, and several other tweaks aiming to attract more viewers.
Goodbye to Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians
John Needham, the President of Esports at Riot Games, publicly announced that the departure of the two teams from the league was a mutually agreed decision. The statement was posted across different social media platforms, and it led to diverse reactions from the community.
The decision promises flexibility and marks the beginning of the league's restructuring process. Needham stated that the change was made in preparation for the upcoming free agency. Hence, affected players could pursue opportunities with other teams or leagues.
Evil Geniuses reappeared in the LCS scene in 2020. This followed the league's franchising in 2018, and PEAK6 Investments' acquisition of the Esports company in 2019. The league witnessed EG buying out Echo Fox's spot in the same year.
Among the four new teams that joined following the LCS's franchising was Golden Guardians. The Golden State Warriors, an NBA team, owns and operates this organization.
The Implications of Guardians and Geniuses Departure
Speculations regarding these team's future league rosters have been scarce leading up to the off-season. The contracts for most of the EG's members were set to expire on November 21, 2023, thus adding to the intrigue.
Before this development, Golden Guardians had not reported any changes to their lineup. As both teams have been fixtures in the LCS for a while, these changes may result in shifts in the dynamics of the league.
While Golden Guardians never managed to secure a league title, Evil Geniuses had more success. They claimed the Spring 2022 playoff trophy and triumphed in the 2022 Summer regular season. Both teams represented the LCS in international events. Their departures will leave significant gaps in the competition.
The restructuring of the LCS is a defining moment for the league. The coming seasons will determine if this move will revive the league's declining viewership and lackluster international performance. The mutual agreement between Riot Games and these departing teams suggests an understanding of these complexities and a willingness for change to foster future success.