Introduction: The S15 season is completely over, and it’s believed that the vast majority of players have focused on the recent offseason. The LCK region’s overall condition and performance in recent years have been very steady, with remarkable achievements. It was assumed their growth would be quite good, but surprisingly, an interview from Gen’s team owner exposed all the internal problems in LCK. Riot’s prize distribution is indeed very unfair, and the overall incentive system is poor. He even mentioned that three Asian teams, including some from the LCK region, want to sell their teams because they can no longer sustain operations. Additionally, Deft has been reported to have a serious back injury, making his return to competition highly unlikely.

Gen's owner points out Riot's prize money is too low

Most players are familiar with the LCK region, recognized as a world-class top-tier league. In recent years, LCK has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable success, winning the World Championship multiple years in a row. It was assumed their sponsorship and operations would run smoothly, but Gen's owner’s interview revealed all the inside stories. The crisis is not only severe in the LPL region; other Asian regions including LCK also face serious problems. If Riot does not make timely adjustments, League of Legends will face a deep winter.

First, Gen’s team owner mentioned the issue of Riot’s prize incentives. The main goal for esports players is to win the World Championship, and their livelihood depends heavily on salaries and prize money. Compared to other esports, the prize pool in League of Legends is indeed very small, even less than China’s Honor of Kings, not to mention the hugely popular DOTA and CSGO. The incentive structure does not encourage building competitive teams; paradoxically, losing teams in League of Legends can earn more money than winning teams.

The implication is that although Gen won many championships this year, they underperformed at the World Championship stage. Being strong for 11 months but weak for 1 month allowed T1 to surpass them infinitely in prize money. He also stated that many teams are struggling to operate, with three different Asian teams having contacted him about selling or acquiring their squads, including LCK teams. These teams share the common problem of not finding buyers. This highlights that not only is the LPL region shrinking teams, but other regions including the perennial champion LCK are facing the same issues.

The departure of veteran players without fresh blood entering is currently the biggest problem in the league. Without popularity, there are no sponsors, and prize pools cannot be increased. Recently, former top AD player Deft returned home to start streaming, but his severe back injury prevents him from sitting for long even during military service, forcing him to rest at home. He had previously expressed intentions to return to the pro scene after military service, but given his current physical condition, it seems highly unlikely. This is undoubtedly a huge loss for both LCK and LPL, as veteran players bring great popularity and Deft is known as a clean, respected figure.

Farewell thoughts

The issue raised by Gen’s owner is very clear: in recent years, the prize pool for League of Legends has been steadily decreasing. The peak was probably during the S8 season, when the IG team earned a lot, and the champion skin revenue reached over ten million. It depends on Riot’s adjustments next season; if nothing changes, more teams might gradually leave the league.

What do you all think about this situation?