The LCK is scheduled to merge with Riot Games Korea Ltd. starting October 30th, 2025. While this will mean little change for the league we all know and love, Riot Games expects the merger to allow for a more stable revenue base for teams by letting game and esports operate more closely together.
What Will Change?
Ever since OGN (the original South Korean League of Legends league) turned into the LCK back in 2015, the league has always been operated by Riot Games Korea (RGK), though it remained functional as its own entity for the sake of transparency. Now, RGK is fully absorbing the LCK moving forward with the goal of integrating the game and the league more easily into one.
As for the league itself, though, Riot promises it will remain largely untouched. In fact, the merger aims to support the growth of the scene long-term, not overhaul the LCK.
For the teams in the league, their revenue base should only grow stronger, as global revenue structures like the Global-Revenue-Pool (GRP) and in-game and off-game revenue will be added to team distribution post-merger. It is also important to note that both the 'LCK' name as well as its traditional rules and format proceed as usual.
Far from being the end of the league as we know it, this merger sets out to strengthen the link between the LCK (esports) and League of Legends (game) in South Korea.
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Featured image credit: LCK
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