Since its inception in 2009, League of Legends (LoL) has expanded to become one of the most profitable computer games in the world. With millions of active subscribers across the world, the video game by Riot Games is one of the dominant games in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video games sector. But what of the popularity of League of Legends in the UK? Is the UK a stronghold of the game, or is it behind other European nations?
Player base and community growth
Exact figures on the UK player base are difficult to obtain as Riot Games does not publish full country statistics. However, polls and estimates suggest that the game also has a strong following in the UK. According to this article 115 million players played Lol in 2019. The platform ActivePlayer.io reports several million monthly active players all over the world for League of Legends. While the UK is not an absolute leader, it is one of the most important markets for the game in the European continent.
England’s gaming community is particularly alive on platforms such as Reddit and Discord. A popular subreddit can boast thousands of members that share strategies, memes and discuss current news among the LoL community on a daily basis. The English LoL community is also prominent on Twitch. Streamers such as Caedrel, a former professional player and current analyst, stream regularly with thousands of viewers and are a massive presence on the scene.
The importance of esports in England
Even though England is internationally renowned for traditional sports such as football, rugby and cricket, esports has also developed extremely fast over the last few years. Nonetheless, League of Legends in England is yet somewhat in the dark compared to countries such as South Korea, China or Germany in the world of esports.
The highest European competition, the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), is the second-highest prestige league in the world, and English teams are not very strongly represented in top flight European competitions, but there are a couple of professional British players who have gained international fame.
These players such as Alphari (Barney Morris), who is considered to be one of the best top laners in Europe, or KaSing (Raymond Tsang), who played for teams such as H2k, have demonstrated that England has its own talent when it comes to LoL players.
And then there are two competitions, the UKEL (UK Esports League) and the NLC (Northern League of Legends Championship), which act as a stepping stone for British stars. One of the few teams to qualify for the LEC is the British organization Excel Esports, which is establishing a steadily increasing support base.
Universities and amateur leagues
One unexpected driver of League of Legends’ popularity in the UK is heightened university support. Many universities now have their own esports clubs, with League of Legends as one of the flagship titles. The National University Esports League (NUEL) and the University Esports UK League offer platforms for students to continue to develop their competitive skills.
These university leagues are gaining traction and give skilled players competitive experience within an organized environment. In addition, some universities now have esports degree programs, reflecting the growing mainstream popularity and professionalization of the industry.
Influence of pop culture and media
Pop culture also has its contribution to the UK’s interest in League of Legends. The Netflix animated series Arcane, which is based on the League of Legends universe, was one of the most popular shows of 2021. It also garnered a huge fan base in the UK. This boosted many new players’ interest in the game.
And yet another sign of LoL’s influence on the UK is Riot Games’ music and media productions. Either the in-house band Pentakill or virtual K-pop band K/DA have also gained attention beyond gaming enthusiasts and brought the game to yet another broader public.
Challenges and future prospects
All the same, there are problems too for the English League of Legends scene. The general trend in gaming is gradually but inexorably moving more towards casual games and mobile games, and traditional PC games such as League of Legends find it increasingly difficult to retain new players in the long term.
Additionally, Valorant, another game produced by Riot Games, along with other battle royale games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, is competing for the attention of players in Britain. Still, League of Legends remains greatly reliable due to constant updates, new contents such as champions, and large events such as the World Championship, with millions of global viewers every year.
In the future, whether the UK is going to be a serious esports country in League of Legends, however, remains to be seen. With professional organizations, highly skilled players, and burgeoning university teams, at least there are positive signs on the horizon.
Conclusion
League of Legends certainly has its fans in the UK, although it does not currently share the same level of national esports dominance it does elsewhere. The thriving community, successful British pro players and new infrastructure in the world of esports show that the game is still a huge force in the UK. Despite the strong competition from other games, League of Legends is part of UK gaming culture – for players with recreations and aspirations and professional players.
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