Is the franchise a cancerous growth hindering League of Legends' decline? A journalist's article provides an in-depth analysis, and viewers can relate. (Part Two)

The reporter's article title is straightforward: "Esports: Adapt or Die," pinpointing the dilemma the industry is facing. Perhaps the decline of League of Legends esports has unfortunately set an example. Over the years, we have witnessed its rapid development, commercial operation, integration of entertainment elements, and the use of social functions and the power of social media to gradually erode daily life and become an indispensable source of enjoyment.

Reason for decline #2: No new players joining

After Dekkar's article was published, everyone seemed to have an epiphany and finally understood why the International Olympic Committee announced the cancellation of the 2027 eSports Olympics. Returning to the game League of Legends, the lingering of loyal fans is not as rosy as outsiders think. Their support and stubbornness are precisely the obstacles preventing its development. First, they believe that the competition has lost its entertainment value, and the game has also lost its appeal. The learning curve is steep, and the new player guidance is inadequate. From this, it can be understood that League of Legends has no plan to attract new players, resulting in an extremely low retention rate.

Reason 3 for decline: Intense competition in gaming and low entertainment value of esports.

The reason why MOBA games and esports ecosystems have survived to this day is that social engagement and entertainment are among the core elements. In the gaming sector, there has never been a rule for competition between similar games. World exploration, role-playing, card games, and free-building sandbox games, such as Valorant and Genshin Impact, even with lower tournament popularity (the latter doesn't even need to hold tournaments), offer a wide variety of entertainment options in this consumer environment with limited attention spans. These include toys, blind box unboxing, movies, and more, which drive digital consumption. The choices are endless, and offline events are incredibly lively. A one-day anime convention can completely outperform a league.

Reason for decline #4: League system

The reporter pointed out that League of Legends' first fall to rock bottom and its demise was likely due to the start of the league system. Initially, North America and Europe had promotion and relegation tournaments, but then the two major regions suddenly announced their merger and demanded that Riot Games abolish the relegation system. From then on, the tournament system was divided by the regions, and each LCS league became a franchise league. However, the most ironic thing is that this system significantly reduced revenue and sponsorships, and Riot Games no longer had enough funds to pay operating expenses and subsidies to each team.

Image source: Internet