Photo: Le Figaro
The French League of Legends community is a passionate community that loves to follow the various competitive events by giving voice to support their favorite teams. The success of the LFL (French league of League of Legends) perfectly illustrates the phenomenon. But lately, two successive episodes have frustrated a large part of the fans: the absence of LoL tournament at the next Lyon e-Sport and the push back Solary Party League of Legends. At first glance, the link is not easy to weave between the two. However, if we simplify things a bit, the same reason pushed the organizers to review their plans: the impossibility of LFL players to participate in the event. For Lyon e-Sport, it was necessary to deprive itself of the best players in France, making the competition less prestigious. For Solary, it was necessary to do without players from the LFL team … who are nevertheless important members of the structure.
In both cases, the networks made it known that they were very unhappy… especially since we held the culprit Riot Games, which would deprive LFL teams of LANs, while these physical tournaments are part of the essence of the French League of Legends scene. But while several actors took the floor, it was a little difficult to paint a precise picture of the situation. Ban or no ban? European rule or French rule? Beneficial or handicap for LFL teams and players? Difficult to see clearly, especially since it is a subject as sensitive as it is important. To find out more, we contacted Riot Games and the french league. Without claiming to provide a perfect answer, here is the fruit of our research.
LFL players are more ‘locked out’ than banned
In order to avoid confusion, it should be specified now that the LFL teams are not prohibited from LANs: tournaments organized by a third party and not directly by Riot Games like the LEC. We contacted Riot Games and their response leaves no room for doubt: “Riot Games fully encourages community tournaments provided they follow the guidelines for tournaments organized by third parties.”. It is also specified that these guidelines apply to all ERL teams (division 1 as well as division 2), which includes the LFL, and that they do not prohibit them from participating in LANs. It is the ERL players and teams who are bound by this agreement, not the tournament organizers, which in itself is not a problem. Finally, these directives are relatively new. They arrived at the same time as the harmonization of regional european leagues and are not specially designed for France, but for the whole territory. This is why in 2019we could see LFL teams quietly participating in LANs, but that is no longer the case today.
It is in this context that the players of the French league were not authorized to participate in the Lyon e-Sport. The latter was “red flag” by Riot Games because of its dates (11, 12 and 13 November), which would come into conflict with the riot games schedule. We then invited the Lyon tournament to find other dates, which could have “unlocked” the arrival of LFL players. But LANs are not infinitely flexible, while Riot events (competitions and community events) are very numerous: no solution has therefore been found.
How to explain this marking on the panties?
As a French spectator, we are necessarily attached to LANs and tournaments such as Lyon e-Sport, the Gamers Assembly or the DreamHack Tour, events that are fully part of history. When we looked at the last Tierlist of Solary, we had memories full of the head by evoking figures like Nerroh, Moopz, sardoche or Jbzz. But at that time, the LFL did not exist and Riot Games had not developed a European circuit like that of the ERL…
Officially, ERL players are not banned from LANs and community events. But in fact, they avoid a lot of competitions organized by third parties, especially because of competing dates. Beyond the dates, other issues are at stake: the audience and the prestige. With these two components also come ticket offices, sponsors, partners, investors… Riot Games has not particularly given an official answer on this point. In addition to being complexthe subject is necessarily sensitive. But keep in mind that esports is a very competitive world. Even if the actors of the scene share common interests, one can easily understand that there are also competing interests.
What are the solutions under consideration?
Now that we’ve said that, we find ourselves in a bit of an impasse… But you have to know that the league is trying to get things moving and Riot Games claims that there are continuous dialogues, with the LFL but also with the other ERLs, to advance projects and develop the competitive scene. In France, it is estimated that for players of Div 2 (ERL 2), the experience of LANs would be very valuable to players. In addition to exposing themselves and being spotted, they would gain XP and insurance for the rest of their careers.
The case of LFL players is a little more complex… While players already have extended seasons for the best performers (Spring Split, playoffs, EUM Spring, Summer Split, playoffs, EUM Summer, Coupe de France… .), if we add more LANs, we get a frenetic pace that is not necessarily desirable for organizations. Knowing that unlike Div 2 players, this type of player generally has less to gain in this kind of event. Riot Games’ guidelines are also there to protect players, for this reason if things have to be changed, it must be done in a balanced and reasoned way. There are therefore no big bad guys on one side and victims on the other, but parties with sometimes different interests and complex issues, who find compromises and common ground. Thus, the Solary Party League of Legends could take place at the end of September, on a date validated and accepted by Riot Games and with the players of the LFL team.
esport-lol
Solary delighted yesterday by making a Tierlist of legends who marked the French scene of League of Legends. There was debate, anecdotes and strong choices, to our delight. Thank you for the work, even if some players were a little underrated… in our opinion!