The LCS Players Association is Attempting Change but Finding Little Success

In February of 2022, Riot Games along with the LCS Players Association announced the concept of “champions queue.” Labeling it as a “new competitive matchmaking experience for top North American players,” it offered nearly everything a League of Legends player could want — low ping, a voice communication system, elite company, a cash prize pool for top performers. If regular solo queue was Planet Fitness, this was Equinox.

Players couldn’t have an excuse anymore, you had to play solo queue. You finally have the practice environment you were begging for. You had to be a part of this.

Yet after two months, players have managed to do just that. Champions queue is struggling to maintain an active player base. Either players are returning to the standard solo queue environment or they seemingly aren’t maintaining a non-scrim practice schedule. In fact, it is shocking that players aren’t practicing after their scrim window to improve their skills — claiming they are not looking to “burn out” from the game and people are cool with it.

There’s already a ton of conversation of just how pathetic this is from the players. But what the players and the players association may not realize, this is going to impact their pursuit for greater changes.

On March 11, the LCS Players Association announced a multi-year partnership with OneTeam. An athletic marketing company, OneTeam is being brought in to assist a broader group of competitors in capitalizing on their name, image and likeness. Group licensing is a very powerful tool that has helped members of the MLBPA, NBAPA partner with video game companies or card companies to secure the bag.

If you want to get that bag in esports, you have to start doing something to make it valuable, players.

…

Since its inception, the LCSPA has struggled.

Originally, it was seen as a problem with its first executive, Hal Biagas, who was not re-elected to his position in 2020. Despite being with the group for three years, Biagas’ association was a non-factor. The biggest contribution would be the addition of a grace period — resulting from Echo Fox’s handlings of Kim “Fenix” Jae-hun, Johnny “Altec” Ru and Adrian “Adrian” Ma’s releases.

The LCS PA chose former Evil Geniuses’ Chief Gaming and Chief Operating Office Phillip Aram to fill the seat. Restructuring to feature only three players holding a titled position and adding industry leaders to serve on their board of directors, it was a massive overhaul. This likely came as a response to Riot Games defunding the PA after funding for the few years of development.

Aram immediately looked to re-build the infrastructure of the organization, citing a lack of touch points to communicate information between the players and Riot. He wanted to turn the players association from a joke into a respected body — an extremely tough ask. But so far, it has been progress.

Champions queue was the first real big win for the PA. After Biagas and company fought to allow for players to stream tournament realm matches — which they didn’t, champions queue was bringing that foundation to a new level. It was a collaborative effort from Riot Games and the players to improve quality of life.

But it wasn’t a huge sacrifice for Riot from a business perspective. Despite ponying up a cash prize, they would be relatively hands-off. It would be on the players to organize and execute, show that they were serious in improving the North American ecosystem — especially as they looked for more control in other aspects of their competitive lives.

Champions queue felt like a boyfriend being asked to take care of a plant by his significant other to see how they will be able to manage other living beings. The players dumped a gallon of water onto the plant at first, thinking that it would be enough to hold things over for a while, but didn’t give it the continued assistance and support it needed to thrive.

…

Despite criticism of Riot Games’ handling of the competitive league, they’ve proven a willingness to let people — specifically the players — take more of the control in improving the league. The problem is that once they relinquish control, it becomes a non-factor and losses value. Their patience and “slowness” to grow has not only built the most stable competitive foundation in esports, its saved bad actors from damaging the business of competitive League of Legends at the highest level.

The Players Association has to continue to be actively participating. Samson “Lourlo” Jackson and Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in have tried leading from the front — with both playing 90+ games in Split 2 in champions queue. But it has been the lack of effort from key veterans and rising stars in the scene that has killed the momentum. In his return to the playing stage, the face of the LCS Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg remains relatively inactive in the public light.

It, unfortunately, does feel like the players just don’t care about the state of the region. They just point out it’s bad. How this issue gets addressed is difficult. it may not be communicated how the lack of effort impacts the wallets of players — with organizations continuing to drop bags of money and players not being punished for furthering their practice or self-image.

When someone’s bank account is negatively impacted, things change. The Players Association hasn’t found the right formula for that yet. Keeping players in the group rights conversation or kicking them out appears to be the solution they’re going after. But given their current status, it just feels like an after-school club with titled members not really adding much value — as show by Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme’s demeanor when discussing matters involving the group in interviews.

It should also be known that this isn’t just an LCS Players Association problem. This is a problem other organized player bodies go through. Said bodies are just in a better situation to handle it given their approach over time.

Unionization works when interests are aligned. At this moment in time, the interest of players continues to not be known or not commonly understood. Top market earners and bottom market earners are not aligned but both are happy with where they are at given the luxury and comfort esports currently offers.

The PA’s current approach is concerning — looking at financial growth opportunities with their March partnership. They are not in a position of power and more importantly, are in a position to grow successfully. The failure of champions queue just shines a beaming light on the lack of care and effort that is needed from players. Repeating a canned line in interviews only gets you so far.

…

The LCS Players Association has to be better with its approach. Unionization and a proper governing body representing the players is important but it needs to be properly built and functioning before fighting over key rights. Taking on too much responsibility and not being in a position to execute devalues what is capable from the PA in the future. Despite improving their communication infrastructure, there needs to be a better infrastructure for the business of the PA to grow from.

Group rights are an answer for the future, just not the “right now” answer.

It is disappointing that we’re reaching year five of the PA with no real progress. But, in a scene that is still young, still growing and still attempting to find itself, it’s understandable. It shouldn’t be mocked and individuals of the scene that are mocking the PA as former players are part of the problem.

Frustration with the activities of the PA is understandable but esports as a whole has generally been problematic when it comes to establishing a proper foundation. It is why it is time to stop thinking like a conventional sports organizing body and think like an organization representing esports competitors.