There are some strong feelings running through the Oceanic League of Legends community at the moment following a September 20 release from Riot Games that spells the end of the LCO as we know it in Oceania.
In the post titled “Future of League Esports in Oceania,” Riot announced the decision to “‘revamp League of Legends esports in Oceania”’ before going on to thank the community and partners.
The final section of the post focuses on the future and mentions that Riot is “actively exploring solutions for a new OCE competitive circuit,” with a desired solution containing a pathway into APAC League esports.
This information suggests the end of the LCO, leaving Oceanic League esports with a clouded future. This builds onto the uncertainty that has been gradually compounding the Circuit since its conception.
Snowball Esports reached out to Riot with a spokesperson stating that solutions for an OCE league are being explored, but that “we don’t have more to share at this point.”
- Read more: Breaking: Oceanic Pro League to close
“We’ve been burned countless times as a region throughout our history, and to close another chapter with an announcement of an announcement fills me with nothing but dread, not hope,” former OPL and LCO caster Zack “Rusty” Pye shared with Snowball. This echoes the general sentiment shared by the community as one X/Twitter user remarked, “Revamp probably isn’t what I [would’ve] gone with here”.
Players are somewhat in the dark alongside the community, as Snowball reached out to multiple OCE veterans and rookies for comment but there has been little shared with the playing group about the future of the league yet.
“Riot needs to look at our region and help somewhat, even if the viewership plus sponsorship isn’t viable,” seasoned top-laner Brandon “BioPanther” Alexander said. “I always want the best for OCE since our region has so much passion and drive. It’s just amazing to see it, especially at live events.”
Antic’s Dragon “Dragku” Guo agreed with Bio’s thoughts, referring to the competition as a “part-time league for some players” due to the region already receiving limited resources. Still, similar to Bio, he has some hope for the future, and is sure OCE will pull through as it always does.
2024 spelled the beginning of Mateo “Kurak” Topic’s career in Oceanic League, kicking off the year in Kanga before moving to Ground Zero for Split 2 where the team took first place and first seed in PCS playoffs. Kurak is sad about the “revamp” and disappointed at the lack of resources that OCE and other regions have received for “countless years.”
“If I don’t get into an APAC or other major region team, [this] might be the last year I play, and other pro players [too],” the support player admitted.
The LCO was a new OCE competitive circuit established after the OPL was dissolved in 2020. While OCE was guaranteed to be represented at international events during the OPL, 2023 saw the LCO adding the additional hurdle of competing in the PCS to secure those international opportunities.
With a competitive career starting a decade ago, Shern “Shernfire” Tai attended Worlds in 2017/18 without this extra step, but things have evolved a lot further since then. Feeling somewhat able to compete with teams “in the same situation as us or on our level”, he cites the competition in the PCS being “almost on the same level as NA or better.”
He also believes that additional experience of getting to scrim other teams in Asia puts them at an advantage: “When you get that level of comp and practice throughout the year, it’s a lot easier to show up.”
“It is very discouraging since it’s like the region doesn’t matter anymore.”
Mateo “Kurak” Topic
Some sources have shared their speculation of a dedicated slot for Oceania in APAC in the future that will keep the dream alive in 2025.
With so much history behind it, OCE has a lot to look back on and take pride in. From myself winning the dash_bb Memorial Award for Best Member of Twitch Chat in 2018 to Pentanet’s miracle MSI run to Bliss and Ground Zero’s demonstration at PCS playoffs this split, showing the world that OCE’s heart is still beating.
Despite all the challenges that our region has been through, some people have been here through thick and thin—even if a bit of hair is lost along the way.
Many lives have been changed thanks to Oceanic League, and like the Nautilus statue off the coast of Queensland, the community will find some way to create life, even when it feels like we’re underwater.
As Dragku said: “Our region has always survived off passion, so I’m sure we will figure something out.”
