Shocking News for League of Legends Fans
Today, fans of League of Legends were hit by some shocking news. The best Western team, Fnatic, has lost two key players, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.
Fnatic, known for winning back-to-back LCS titles and finishing in the top four at the Riot World Championships, is saying goodbye to top lane star Huni and jungler Reignover. This unexpected departure has left fans and the esports community questioning why two talented players would leave such a strong team.
Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, Fnatic’s AD carry, shed some light on the situation. He explained that European teams aren’t able to match the salaries offered by NA or Korean teams, making it difficult to retain players. Larsson sympathized with Huni and Reignover’s decision, stating that he would have made the same choice in their position.
This off-season has seen several European players moving to North American teams, highlighting the financial disparity between regions. Larsson emphasized that even though Fnatic is the best organization in Europe, it can still be beaten by lesser organizations in NA and Korea.
An advantage that Korean players have over others is their freedom to compete in any region. They can earn better salaries in North America, China, or Korea, while European players are limited in their options.
Larsson stressed the importance of understanding cultural comfort and the desire to play with people from your own country. He mentioned that he has no hard feelings towards Huni and Reignover, as he knows that pursuing lucrative opportunities is just the reality of the esports industry.
With the departures of two key players, Fnatic now faces the challenge of filling these positions. Larsson expressed his confidence in the organization’s ability to find suitable replacements, but acknowledged that it will be tough to fill the shoes of Huni and Reignover.
Fnatic’s success in the past demonstrates their ability to find talented players and build strong teams. Whether they can replicate their achievements in the upcoming season remains to be seen.
The Future of European Esports
Larsson believes that the issue of player retention in Europe goes beyond just Fnatic. He suggests that Europe needs to find a way to keep up with the increasingly competitive world of esports if they want to retain their top talent.
Ultimately, it seems that money is a driving factor in these player departures. Esports careers are short, and players want to maximize their earnings while they can. Until Europe can offer salaries that are more competitive with other regions, these departures may continue.
It will be interesting to see how Fnatic navigates this challenging situation and if Europe can find a solution to keep their top players in the future.
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr