Is League of Legends Dying or Is It Still Popular? - EB24

When League of Legends was first released as a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) by Riot Games in 2009, it quickly became one of the best-selling and most popular online games of all time. Since then, many contenders have tried to either dethrone LoL or at least come close to its success rate. Most of them have failed. League was the only game Riot Games had going for them for a long time. Nowadays, it has more games in its roster such as Legends of Runeterra, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant. This allows the development team to reach a broader audience worldwide.

So, what does this mean for League of Legends? As Riot Games has managed to win over more players with new games, it has also taken away even some of the best players from LoL. Does this mean the League of Legends World Championship can't maintain viewership as one of the most popular events still going? Are there still at least a million players competing in this online game?

League of Legends, Riot Games, and Esports: The Beginning

When LoL was first released, a handful of testers and other players tried to get accustomed to the game. As time passed, League became such a popular game that famous esports players turned into celebrities within the gaming communities of their respective countries. Most League of Legends tournaments fostered vibrant communities featuring professional players who became well-known regionally and nationally. International League of Legends esports tournaments featured pro players and a betting platform that played a crucial role in the game's rising popularity as an esport.

With its strategic gameplay engaging millions of players, League of Legends had no trouble maintaining its status as a popular PC video game enjoyed by gamers worldwide. The player base, engaging in Summoner's Rift and other competitive modes, kept it at the forefront as one of the biggest esports games of all time. Every month, LoL players continued to play the game, even years after its initial release.

Year after year, Riot Games introduced new content to attract new players. This content included new champions, skin designs, and opportunities, offering players the chance to embark on a new season with fresh challenges to prevent LoL from fading into obscurity. For Riot Games at the time, the premature demise of LoL would have mirrored the fate of games like LawBreakers and Titanfall 2, which, despite showing promise as MOBAs, failed to sustain sufficient player numbers to remain viable.

League of Legends, Riot Games, and Esports: As of 2024

Going into 2023, League of Legends still has a community with over 153 million players worldwide. The current state of League of Legends demonstrates that it is far from becoming a dying game. In 2024, millions of monthly players continue to play League. On average, the monthly player base is over 140 million. These include newcomers and seasoned veterans alike, who grind through every game, thus debunking the myths that League of Legends is dying as an online multiplayer game.

League of Legends is one of the few games over ten years old to maintain such a huge popularity rating. Although the monthly numbers of active players fluctuate, Riot Games has managed to keep LoL as popular as ever. This is especially the case with League of Legends: Wild Rift. Whether starting a new season or jumping into a mid-season invitational, the millions of new and returning players online serve as enough proof that LoL is still just as popular now as it ever was. You can play League champion mastery and LoL ranked placement and we can help you be better at your gameplay.

2023 featured a mid-season invitational in London that delivered even better numbers than previously. This proves that esports is still growing in popularity and has become more mainstream as a form of entertainment enjoyed by millions of viewers worldwide. The 2024 League of Legends World Tournament has already been confirmed to take place in London, England. This leaves the door open for European fans to elevate LoL's popularity as an esport even higher.

Considering LoL is available only on PC, the impressive numbers demonstrating the game's ongoing popularity speak for themselves. The numbers in 2024 suggest League is not ready to call it quits as a popular video game anytime soon. With new season changes on the way, members of the LoL community are more than ready to welcome what's coming with open arms.

League of Legends Esports Active Player Base and Viewership

As far as its popularity as an esport goes, the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) in 2024 promises to be the best year LoL has had in terms of exposure and presence, thanks to the new format changes designed to accommodate international tournaments. This, combined with T1's return to the top of the world, has led the League of Legends World Championship to record its highest average viewership peak at over 6.4 million viewers—a significant jump from the 1.25 million concurrent viewers in 2022.

What's helping League of Legends maintain its popularity is the unwavering dedication displayed by the Riot Games development team. The men and women on this team maintain a healthy relationship with members of the LoL community through social media, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter). While it's impossible to please every fan all the time, Riot Games does what it can to accommodate LoL fans, including making changes in key areas such as the LoL Arena. This also involves offering alternatives between Summoner's Rift and ARAM. Although not a permanent game mode (yet), this game mode has attracted new players as well as veterans every time it becomes available. Players can still order League boosting as well as duo boost and TFT ranked boost.

Is League of Legends Dying? How About the Esports Scene?

So, is League of Legends dying? What about the esports scene? Contrary to what one might expect, the answer to these questions, based on numbers shared by trusted sources such as Esports Charts, suggests that LoL's popularity is actually growing. Sponsors are eager to get involved, highlighting the game's continued appeal. Even though the monthly active player count may seem unstable at times, LoL remains healthy and is going as strong as ever.