Yesterday I shared on my social media about a certain saga that is happening in the North American branch of the League Of Legends esport league and some stuff happened and it could go in a tug-0f-war between Riot Games and LoL pro players.

Early this week, players of the League Championship Series (LCS) voted in majority for a walkout of the LCS Summer Split as a protest for a new rule issued by Riot Games in which LCS teams to field a team in an official feeder league, which Riot justified as a support the continued, long-term success of the teams and the professional esports ecosystem in North America.

But for Pro teams, besides not being consulted previously with them, the move attempts to require teams to field scab players at the start of the season, undermines player negotiating power and pretty much leaves to them both the physical and monetary weight of properly prepared players.

To this walkout sponsored by the LCS Players Association (LCSPA), issued 5 demands for teams returning to the event and includes:

  1. Institute a Valorant-style promotion and relegation between the LCS and NACL.
  2. Riot commits to a revenue pool for player salaries of $300K USD per NACL team per year. 
  3. Allow LCS organizations to partner with affiliates for cost-sharing.
  4. Riot guarantees LCS minimum contracts for the following year for the 5 players who win the LCS summer finals each year.
  5. Institute a 3/5's roster continuity rule to provide players on released NACL rosters 1st priority in maintaining their slots in the upcoming NACL season if a majority continue to compete together.

Taking matters in hand, Riot Games acknowledged the message and while complying with ONLY ONE demand (a revenue pool for player salaries of $300K) and delaying the event for two weeks while it sit downs with player and look for constructive talk, warned that no further delay can be justified and the LCS Summer Split can be canceled.

The blog entry could easily lead to speculation that Riot Games will have common grounds but not a full retraction and we have to see how this progresses.