League of Legends
League of Legends
The new Olaf rework lets his ultimate last forever
Nicholas James
Riot Games announced an incoming small-scale Olaf rework and it’s already available on the PBE. With the new rework, Freljordian berserker can remain in his powerful ultimate ability state forever. At least, in theory. Riot has been increasing the number of smaller-scale reworks performed on champions in League of Legends, with tweaks to Ahri making her suddenly playable even at the pro level after years of mediocrity. A new Olaf …
League of Legends
100 Thieves vs. Team Liquid: 2022 LCS Spring playoff betting
William Davis
The first finalist for the 2022 LCS Spring Split will be decided this weekend as top seed Team Liquid will take on 100 Thieves in what could be the closest best-of-five series of the playoffs so far. After both teams advanced with a victory in the first round of the upper bracket, it’s now time to find the first finalist. Team Liquid entered the playoffs as the first seed but …
League of Legends
New Lunar Eclipse and Solar Eclipse skins coming soon to LoL
Nicholas James
New Lunar Eclipse and Solar Eclipse skins are coming to League of Legends, adding to the fan-favorite skinline. Riot Games has announced a suite of new Eclipse skins coming to its massive MOBA, as well as two new unique skins for Gangplank and Yasuo. The skins take inspiration from Targon’s two main factions, the sun-worshipping Solari and the moon-worshipping Lunari. A new wave of the Eclipse skins has made its …
League of Legends
If Maple and Bo head to the LCS, which teams will they join?
Nicholas James
LPL players Huang “Maple” Yi-tang and Zhou “Bo” Yang-Bo are rumored to be making their way to North America, but where could Maple and Bo end up in the LCS? According to a recent streaming clip of Chinese pro player Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang, it is suggested that the previous FPX jungler and Anyone’s Legend mid laner are looking at heading to the LCS. Both of these players have plenty to …
League of Legends
Former Worlds winner Nuguri reportedly returning to DWG KIA
William Davis
A familiar face might be returning to DWG KIA for the next split, as top laner Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon is reportedly signing with the team for the upcoming 2022 LCK Summer Split. As per reports from Korizon Esports, the Korean top laner is set to return to the professional stage starting next split. He will be rejoining his former team in DWG KIA, playing with the likes of Kim “Canyon” …
League of Legends
Is Vetheo the best League of Legends player in Europe today?
Nicholas James
Vincent “Vetheo” Berrié has been awarded the prestigious Most Valuable Player award in the LEC for the 2022 spring split, but is Vetheo really the best League of Legends player in Europe? Vetheo has been a standout performer for Misfits Gaming in the LEC and has been recognized for his impressive performance as the spring split’s MVP. This is an impressive accomplishment, especially from a team that finished third in …
League of Legends
LGD Jay banned indefinitely for match-fixing by Riot Games
Nicholas James
LGD Gaming mid laner Chen “Jay” Bo has been banned indefinitely from the LPL and all League of Legends competitions for match-fixing in Riot Games’ franchised Chinese league. Allegations surfaced following the leak of several alleged text messages sent between LGD mid laner Jay and an unknown party in which Jay negotiates to throw a fight against Top Esports in order to fix bets. LGD and Riot Games have come …
League of Legends
Fnatic vs. G2 Esports: 2022 LEC Spring playoff betting analysis
William Davis
For the second time during the 2022 LEC Spring Split playoffs, fans will be treated to a best-of-five series between Fnatic and G2 Esports. The last time the two teams met was in the first round of the upper bracket, where Fnatic took home a decisive 3-1 victory. Since then, G2 has ramped up in the lower bracket by taking out Vitality and Misfits Gaming without dropping a single game. …
The EU Play-In Knockout matches that will determine the EUM lineup
Tokoni Uti
League of Legends
With the EU Masters Play-In group stage now concluded, the remaining eight teams will soon become four with the last quartet of sides earning spots alongside the higher-seeded outfits in the European Masters Main Event. The Play-In groups were held across two days, with four groups that all saw four sides play a double-round robin to move on to the knockout section. Now, the Knockouts will narrow down the competition …
DoinB claims LPL won’t attend MSI if teams can’t play remotely
Tokoni Uti
League of Legends
Former World Champion Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang shocked fans on a recent livestream after explaining that LPL teams may not compete in this split’s MSI due to scheduling issues. This shocking situation is due to China’s current quarantining policies and September’s Asia Games. The Asia Games are set to be held in September, between the LPL Summer split and the 2022 World Championship, meaning that the LPL playoffs are likely to …
Shlatan awarded LEC Rookie of the Split after Misfits makes playoffs
William Davis
League of Legends
The Rookie of the Split award for the 2022 LEC Spring Split goes to Misfit Gaming jungler Lucjan “Shlatan” Ahmad. It only took Shlatan one split to prove why he was picked up in the LEC this season, taking Misfits to the playoffs and performing consistently well against the best junglers in Europe throughout the regular split. Shlatan takes the award despite the heavy competition but prevailed after finishing the …
LGD mid laner Jay accused of match-fixing in the LPL
Nicholas James
League of Legends
The LGD mid laner in the LPL has been accused of match-fixing, resulting in his suspension and an internal investigation. LGD mid laner Chen “Jay” Bo has been suspended following allegations of match-fixing and breaking competitive integrity. The revelation stemmed from seemingly incriminating text messages. LGD has suspended Jay and is conducting an internal investigation to determine the veracity of the alleged match-fixing. LGD has had a generally poor 2022, …
Riot reveals controversial buffs to Yasuo and Yone in patch 12.7
William Davis
League of Legends
The upcoming League of Legends patch 12.7 will be a bit more controversial than most updates thanks to both Yasuo and Yone receiving buffs. After the champions were thrown out of the meta recently, the two aggressive brothers might be back in more solo queue and professional games due to the upcoming patch. In the recent patch preview, it was revealed that Riot will be looking to shake up the …
Who is the main character of Arcane?
Nicholas James
League of Legends
The animated adaptation of League of Legends focuses on plenty of champions from the games, but who is the main character of Arcane? Arcane is the first proper venture for Riot Games into traditional entertainment, pulling back the curtain on several champions from Piltover and Zaun. Is there one true protagonist or is the main character in Arcane really multiple people? Here’s everything you need to know about the champions …
All you need to know about Treasure Hunter and healing nerfs
Nicholas James
League of Legends
Sustain has been reduced in League of Legends through patch 12.6, with one of the best healing runes replaced by a new rune called Treasure Hunter. Treasure Hunter has replaced Ravenous Hunter in the Domination tree, eschewing one of the most popular rune choices in the entire game. At the same time, nerfs to runes and items that heal have meant less and less healing for champions who thrive on …
Here’s why the Nexus has lost health in League of Legends
Nicholas James
League of Legends
Fans have noticed that the Nexus health and other features of base defenses have changed in patch 12.6 despite not being listed in the official patch notes. So just what are those changes, and what do they mean for League of Legends players? Patch 12.6 has brought plenty of change to League of Legends. In addition to the usual balance changes, some April Fools’ jokes and a hidden change to …
Team Liquid and Cloud9 take over LCS All-Pro team
William Davis
League of Legends
The 2022 LCS Spring Split playoff is about to start meaning this split’s All-Pro teams have been announced. To no surprise, it is the top teams from the regular split, Team Liquid and Cloud9, that got to shine on the first All-Pro team. In fact, the two teams were dominant enough in the voting that no other team was represented. In the second and third All-Pro teams, players from 100 …
2022 EU Masters Play-In groups drawn, who does Karmine face?
Tokoni Uti
League of Legends
The EU Masters, a tournament that brings together the top teams from Europe’s regional leagues, has seen the groups drawn for the 2022 Play-In stage. The Play-Ins are held with 16 teams, with four moving on to the main event. This is decided through an initial group stage, with four groups of four, after which the first seeds will face the second seeds in head-to-head qualifiers to decide the teams …
Rogue vs. Fnatic: 2022 LEC Spring playoffs betting analysis
William Davis
League of Legends
The victor of the upcoming match Rogue and Fnatic will be granted the first of two spots in the 2022 LEC Spring Split final. It’s finally time to find that first finalist in the ongoing LEC split, and it will be either Rogue, having been at the top all season, or Fnatic, having slowly climbing to the top of the European scene with its updated roster. With a convincing win …
Why are the minions in League of Legends emoting?
Nicholas James
League of Legends
If you’ve noticed minions emoting in your League of Legends games, the April Fools’ Day patch holds the answer. Patch 12.6 brought some secret changes to League of Legends alongside the announced Rengar update and balance changes. When you wipe the enemy team on Summoner’s Rift, allied minions will be dropping some disrespect by flashing emotes. This confused gamers at first but has now become a hilarious early April Fools …
League of Legends
is among the most popular widely-played video games in the world. It has been a consistent trendsetter in the gaming industry, whether as a model for other free-to-play titles looking to monetize their players or as a guiding light for how professional esports can be both successful and sustainable.
It hasn’t always been so though. League of Legends was released in 2009 as an uncertain new project, a game with large aspirations but little proven. In the years since, it has developed into the dominant title that it is today, and one of the biggest games on the planet.
League of Legends drives success of MOBA genre
League of Legends stands out in part because it may arguably be the very first original game released to truly fit into what we now understand to be the increasingly
popular MOBA genre. Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas are a very particular type of game genre that carry out competition between two opposing teams of players on a map. These games test a mix of competition, tactics, and quick reactions, a potent combination that has proven equal parts popular and durable over the years.
While League of Legends was certainly among the first full releases to focus on the genre and its new ideas, it wasn’t actually the origin point for any of it. That distinction belongs to
Blizzard release WarCraft 3,
and more specifically a modified game mode titled
Defense of the Ancients.
WarCraft 3 was a real-time strategy game that featured prominent hero units who could gain in power as they accrued experience points to level up their abilities, and gold to purchase powerful items. Defense of the Ancients was a
user-made game mode
which emphasized these heroes by giving each player control over one such character and teaming them up against an opposing squad of players. It was a dynamite success, inspiring myriad clones and, eventually, an entire genre of games.
But while League of Legends wasn’t the first to bring about these concepts, it was certainly
effective in executing on them. Early developers at publisher Riot Games had a clear idea of what they wanted to accomplish with the creation of League of Legends, and it would be hard to argue against their success given the runaway popularity achieved by their iteration on the MOBA formula.
LoL incorporates esports sustainably
Just as impressive as the long-term success of League of Legends as a game is the continued success of the title’s esports scene. While esports has known multiple peaks and valleys over the years, Riot Games has consistently managed to maintain the prominence of LoL esports. This has been accomplished through an emphasis on
regular regional play
and
sustainability.
Most esports and competitive games at the time used a circuits system, scattering major tournaments for the best teams across the year. Instead, Riot divided the world into separate playing regions. Each region has its own
competitive league
in which the best professional teams play weekly. The best teams in each league are then brought together for an
annual World Championship event
at the end of the competitive year. This allowed for domestic fan followings to develop across such regions as
Korea,
China,
Europe, and
North
and
South America. Fans would closely follow the teams in their region, and from that familiarity would feel invested in cheering them on when they clashed with teams from other regions at the game’s biggest international event.
This basic blueprint has continued to prove successful for Riot Games over the years, though it has expanded and been modified with time. In response to the success of the World Championship, Riot introduced a second international tournament in 2015, the prestigious
Mid-Season Invitational. In 2025,
First Stand
was added to bring LoL esports to three international events per year. Once again the scene was enhanced and this indirectly expanded the opportunities for
League of Legends esports betting. In the meantime, the regional leagues have spread out to include
more regions and lower levels, solidifying their identity.
The basic formula remains the same, however.
Encourage fan support on a domestic level, and then carry that support and interest over to
the global stage. It’s a formula that continues to power League of Legends esports, and looks set to enable it for many years yet to come.
At Win.gg, our coverage of LoL esports spans from the broader competitive updates and their impact on the scene to in-depth high-profile match previews with team analysis, head-to-head analysis,
LoL betting odds
sense-makers and predictions. All of these based on the insights of our experienced esports journalists.
