There are 12 different professionals League of Legends leagues span the globe, which can make it difficult for even the most die-hard fans to keep track of everything. Developer Riot Games is launching a partial solution today: a complete rebranding with the goal of uniting action from around the world. “We are at a crucial point with our sport,” says David Higdon of Riot.
The core of the redesign is quite simple: there is a new logo, a minimalist version of LeagueThe iconic Summoner’s Rift map, along with a “LOL Esports “brand to unite everything. But the idea behind it is much bigger. Outside of major international events like the annual World Invitational Championship or Mid Season, the various teams and leagues rarely interact. With the new global brand, The goal is to link the different regions more closely Higdon compares the structure with FIFA, the world governing body of football, which is at the top of all leagues and professional associations around the world, organizing events such as the Cup of the world.
Riot says viewership for the top four regions – China, South Korea, Europe and North America – has risen 129 percent this year, which the developer believes is due in part to “display habits every time. more global “of fans (that is, people in the United States are tuning in to China’s LPL games, while Korean fans are watching what’s happening in Europe). These habits are one of the reasons behind the new brand. To accompany the logo, Riot also presents new programs created specifically to connect all the different regional leagues. These include a news show every Tuesday that will summarize the latest developments across the 12 leagues, as well as a Wednesday highlights pack that covers the most exciting plays.
One of the hopes is that this new structure and focus will be a boon to some of the smaller leagues in the ecosystem. Right now, the top four regions dominate the conversation, both in terms of performances in international competitions and in the ability to attract spectators and sponsors. “The numbers confirm this,” says Higdon. “You have the four main regions, and then you have the others.” Riot wants to make sure that the smaller leagues have an international focus more than once a year when the teams compete in the world championship.
A new logo and some shows will not solve all the problems. Time zones still create a logistical challenge for viewers, and the quality of the game still varies greatly from region to region. But for Riot, the most focused structure is also a statement: League It has long been one of the most successful competitive games in the world, and the developer wants to keep it running as long as possible. “We consider ourselves a lot in the leather helmet days,” says Higdon. “People forget it because, in the space of electronic sports, nine years is a long time. But we are still in our childhood. “
