League of Legends (LoL) is considered a source of great pride for Riot Games. In October 2021, Riot revealed that the monthly player count for LoL reached an impressive 180 million. This number is remarkably significant for a game that has been around for so long.
However, according to some prominent figures in the gaming community, LoL is currently being “ignored” by its home players. Specifically, during a broadcast by the esports organization 100 Thieves (100T), owner Matthew “NadeShot” Haag expressed his concerns about LoL. He revealed that many young gamers in North America are no longer interested in Riot Games’ title.
“I have to admit that I am genuinely worried about the future of LoL, at least in North America. If you ask 100 gamers aged 16 what game they play at home, maybe only 5 would choose LoL. This game has been around for 13 years and no longer sparks interest for new players in North America” – said NadeShot, the owner of 100T.
In reality, NadeShot’s concerns are entirely justified as LoL is struggling in its homeland of North America. Even as of 2022, the viewership of the LCS tournament decreased by 35-40% compared to 2019. Many content creators have also abandoned LoL as the game is no longer receiving significant attention.
Many major content creators in North America, such as Pokimane and Lilypichu, have left LoL to create more “feminine” content. Perhaps only Tyler1 remains a prominent content creator in North America still committed to this game.
In a highly competitive market like North America, the lack of groundbreaking changes in LoL has led to a gradual loss of its standing. This has happened before when the survival shooter game wave emerged a few years ago. Without significant changes, LoL’s continued decline in its own homeland will likely persist in the near future.