Riot Games
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Riot admits it "made mistakes" with League of Legends' ranked season, imposes hard reset at apex levels
Riot Games has acknowledged mistakes in League of Legends' 2026 ranked season configuration, particularly affecting Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger tiers. To address player concerns about inconsistent matchmaking and LP gains, a hard reset will be implemented at Master 0 LP with patch 26.09 on April 29. This reset aims to prioritize ranked ladder integrity, though it will cause short-term matchmaking volatility. Future seasons will see adjustments to LP gain and minimum rank cutoffs.
Firstpoint VC launches with €50m fund to invest in AI-driven games and entertainment startups
Firstpoint VC has launched with a €50 million fund dedicated to investing in AI-driven gaming and entertainment startups, focusing on emerging markets in Türkiye, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. The firm is led by general partners Burak Yılmaz and Mike Fischer, who bring extensive experience from companies like Square Enix, Epic Games, Amazon, and Microsoft. Firstpoint aims to identify and support early-stage companies that integrate AI at the core of their product development and growth strategies.
League Community Splits on NA vs EU Co-Streaming Approach
A debate is ongoing within the League of Legends community regarding the differing co-streaming approaches between North America and Europe. North American co-streams are characterized by a relaxed, conversational style, while European streams emphasize deeper strategic analysis. This discussion highlights how co-streaming has become a cultural touchstone reflecting regional preferences in esports consumption.
Riftbound Lille best of Deck Lists summary
This article summarizes the top deck lists from the Riftbound RQ Lille event, compiled from the UVS events page. It provides a list of players, their rankings, and links to their specific deck lists, noting that some champion choices may need to be inferred. The summary highlights the performance of various champions and encourages readers to explore different playstyles.
G2 Hel Returns to Valorant Game Changers After Year-Long Break
G2 Esports is returning to the Valorant Game Changers scene after a year-long hiatus, aiming to compete in the revamped format. The organization had previously withdrawn its women's Valorant project in 2025. This comeback is seen as a significant development for the competitive landscape, adding a well-resourced team to the growing women's esports circuit.
Is Fortnite Toxic? An Honest Answer Backed by Data (2026) | TAG
Data suggests Fortnite's reputation for toxicity is more nuanced than commonly perceived, with lower rates of identity-based harassment compared to other competitive shooters. While age-driven trash talk and skill-gap frustration are prevalent, especially in modes like Ranked, Epic Games has implemented moderation tools and default communication settings to mitigate harm, particularly for younger players.
League costreamers want paid licenses to break free from broadcast chains
A debate is intensifying within the League of Legends esports scene regarding costreaming policies, with a proposal suggesting costreamers pay for licenses to gain full creative freedom. This model aims to resolve tensions between official broadcasts and independent creators by offering a tiered system that compensates Riot Games for its production value while allowing popular streamers unrestricted content.
A standard Azir deck wins Riftbound Lille – but hold on meta chasers
Pedro B, a competitive Pokémon player, won the Riftbound regional qualifier in Lille, France, using a standard Azir deck. The article analyzes how the current meta, which heavily targets Irelia, allowed Azir's archetype to succeed. It also discusses potential counters and the deck's inherent inconsistencies.
League artist creates stunning Gwen vs Viego fanart series
A Reddit user has created a fanart series depicting League of Legends champions Gwen and Viego, highlighting their contrasting themes of hope and tragedy. The artwork incorporates game footage from another creator, showcasing community collaboration. This fanart serves as a reminder of the game's enduring popularity, driven by its rich characters and the passionate community that celebrates them.
League Player Breaks Arena Mayhem with 5000 Movespeed Master Yi Build
A League of Legends player achieved an unprecedented 5000 movespeed on Master Yi within the Arena Mayhem game mode. This remarkable feat was accomplished using a combination of specific in-game augments: Get Excited, Tap Dancer, and Upgraded Hubris. The player's success highlights the experimental and often chaotic nature of Arena Mayhem, which encourages players to push game mechanics to their limits.
League of Legends Season Pass Drops to Just One Skin, Fans Push Back
League of Legends players are expressing dissatisfaction with the reduced rewards in the latest Season Pass, which now features only one skin compared to previous passes offering multiple skins and other valuable items. This change is seen as part of a broader industry trend of decreasing value in season passes. The community is actively documenting these changes and engaging in constructive discussions with Riot Games, hoping for a reconsideration of the monetization strategy.
Riot is "more committed to" the League of Legends MMO "than ever," co-founder says, but it did consider buying the now-dead Ashes of Creation
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merill confirmed the company considered acquiring Intrepid Studios, the developer of Ashes of Creation, but ultimately decided against it. Merill stated Riot remains committed to developing its own League of Legends MMO, despite past considerations of investing in or buying Intrepid Studios.
LEC Madrid Event Struggles with Just 20% Ticket Sales 3 Weeks Out
The League of Legends European Championship (LEC) event in Madrid is facing significant challenges with only 20% of tickets sold three weeks prior to the May 8th start date. Factors contributing to the low sales include potential venue choice, travel costs, timing during student exam season, and broader trends in esports live event attendance post-pandemic. Riot Games may need to implement aggressive promotions to boost sales and reconsider future 'roadtrip' format events if attendance remains low.
Wild Rift Patch 7.1b Brings Quick Map Fixes After Major Update
Riot Games released Patch 7.1b for League of Legends: Wild Rift to address pressing map balance issues shortly after a major update. The quick follow-up patch indicates the seriousness of the map changes and demonstrates Riot's responsiveness to community feedback, aiming to maintain competitive integrity and player enjoyment.
Still struggling with its League of Legends MMO, Riot Games was reportedly willing to spend $250 million on acquiring…
Riot Games reportedly offered between $250 million and $500 million to acquire Intrepid Studios and its MMORPG, Ashes of Creation. The offer was revealed in court documents related to litigation involving Intrepid Studios CEO Steven Sharif. Ultimately, the acquisition did not go through, despite Riot's long-term plans for the game.
Morning Legal Briefs
Former Ashes of Creation boss Steven Sharif stated he was advised against a $250 million offer from Riot Games for the MMORPG. The article also briefly mentions unrelated news about a crypto kidnapping case in France.
Ex Ashes of Creation boss Steven Sharif claims he was advised against a $250 million proposal from Riot Games to buy the MMORPG
Former Intrepid Studios founder Steven Sharif has made new claims in the ongoing lawsuit surrounding Ashes of Creation, alleging he was advised against a $250 million acquisition offer from Riot Games. Sharif asserts he is the victim of a defamation campaign and has provided court filings with witness statements. The legal battle continues with multiple parties involved, including investors and other former employees.
Recent Ashes of Creation court filings reveal Riot tried to purchase Intrepid for $250 million
Recent court filings reveal that Riot Games explored acquiring Intrepid Studios, the developer of Ashes of Creation, for $250-500 million in 2022. At the time, Riot was heavily invested in its own MMORPG projects, including Hytale and a separate internal MMO, amidst a period of high player interest in the genre following the performance of games like New World and Lost Ark.
Ashes of Creation boss drops new evidence and allegations against Intrepid’s board, vows to finish the game
Intrepid Studios founder Steven Sharif has released extensive details and court filings addressing allegations of a board attempting to seize control of the company and defraud creditors. Sharif denies misappropriating funds, claims he and his husband invested millions, and vows to finish the game Ashes of Creation. The filings also include accusations against Robert Dawson and Jason Caramanis, and mention a past acquisition offer from Riot Games.
League of Legends Patch 26.8 Drops: Major Meta Shifts Incoming
League of Legends patch 26.8 has been released, introducing significant changes that are expected to shake up the game's meta for both solo queue and professional play. These updates aim to refresh gameplay, potentially making previously underutilized champions and items more viable, and will be crucial for teams adapting to the competitive season.
