Wireless Peripheral Restrictions Cause Problems for South Korean LoL Players at 2026 Asian Games

Some of South Korea's top players are dealing with an unusual obstacle at the 2026 Asian Games: mandatory wired mice in the League of Legends competition. Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok are among the players who have had to adjust their preparation after rarely using wired mice in recent years.

According to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, wireless mice were banned from the competition due to concerns related to communications and the wireless signal environment. The change particularly affects players who regularly use wireless models with their teams.

Zeka Says the Wired Mouse Is the Hardest Part

Speaking to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo after South Korea finished the group stage with three wins, Zeka discussed his difficulty adapting to the wired mouse. Despite practicing with the setup before the competition began, the mid laner said he is still not completely comfortable with it.

“It's an international tournament unlike anything I've experienced before, so I'm always trying to prepare for all the variables. The wired mouse is the hardest part. I haven't fully adjusted yet, but I'm getting there. It's better than it was at first.”

The concern did not begin at the Asian Games. Before traveling to Japan, members of the South Korean team had already been changing their practice routines to get used to the equipment.

In an interview published by Inven Global, Zeus explained that he had been practicing with a wired mouse because he was accustomed to using wireless models. Keria also started practicing with one, while Zeka said he planned to use a wired mouse as much as possible before the tournament.

Not All Wireless Peripherals Are Banned

The official frequency guide for the 2026 Asian Games does not impose a blanket ban on all wireless peripherals at the event. The document states that certain mice, keyboards, and headsets using 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth Low Energy can be used without a specific frequency application. At the same time, organizers warn that radio conditions at the venues may be unfavorable and recommend using wired devices.

For some players, that means competing with equipment that differs from what they normally use throughout the season. At the highest level, even a seemingly minor change can require players to adjust to the mouse movement, cable positioning, and overall feel of the peripheral during matches.

Not every player has had the same problem. Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu said he had used wired mice for a long time, while Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong also said they had enough experience with the equipment that they did not expect major difficulties adapting.

South Korea Reach 2026 Asian Games Semifinals

Despite the equipment adjustment, South Korea went undefeated through the group stage. The team defeated Taiwan, India, and Hong Kong to finish first in Group B.

Zeka started in the mid lane against Taiwan and Hong Kong, while Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok played against India. South Korea will now face Saudi Arabia in the semifinals on October 1. A win would send the defending Asian Games champions into the gold medal match.

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Featured image credit: Flick/gregoirebgz

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