Ahead of the major celebration in the League of Legends competitive calendar, reports indicate that the North American League Championship Series (LCS) is poised to undergo downsizing following a meeting between Riot Games and team owners. According to League personality Michael “Veteran” Archer, the meeting, possibly held this week, saw discussions about reducing the league from 10 teams to eight. A decision on the league’s operation is anticipated as early as the upcoming Monday.
Veteran, along with his sources, suggests that two current LCS teams may exit the franchised league before the next split begins in early 2024. This development comes amidst a significant roster shuffle in the region, with nine out of the league’s 10 teams undergoing substantial changes in 2023. Golden Guardians is the sole team yet to officially announce any alterations, leading to speculation that it might be one of the two teams leaving the league.
There are also speculations about Evil Geniuses potentially exiting the LCS following months of downsizing esports operations. Currently, no team has officially confirmed withdrawal from the league or addressed these rumors. All 10 LCS teams have players or staff on payroll for 2024 at present.
Veteran believes that the meeting was confidential between Riot and team ownership, suggesting that most LCS players and other support staff might be unaware of the potential downsizing, putting their employment at risk. In sharing this information, Veteran aims to ensure awareness among individuals with job agreements with an LCS team, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
These rumors emerge at a crucial time for the LCS, as the league has faced challenges in viewership, experiencing a decline across regional leagues in 2023, particularly in North America. If two teams exit the LCS, the opening split in 2024 would mark the first season in over a decade with fewer than 10 teams. Some speculate that Riot might consider a merge with South America, similar to VALORANT, while others hope that the vacant slots could be filled by the top NA Challenger squads, potentially reinstating a promotion-relegation system.
More details are expected to emerge in the days following the conclusion of Worlds 2023, with Veteran suggesting that the outcome of the meeting will be disclosed on Monday, November 20. Dot Esports has reached out to Riot Games for comment but has not received a response before this article’s publishing.