Riot Games is once again in the spotlight, but this time it is not for the excitement of competitive League of Legends. Instead, the publisher is facing intense criticism from the EMEA community after a disastrous Summer Split format left fans feeling cheated out of a true competitive experience. With mounting outrage spreading across forums and social media, LEC Commissioner Artem Bykov has finally broken his silence and promised that sweeping changes are on the way.
The 2025 Summer Split runs from August 2 to September 28, featuring ten EMEA teams competing for an eighty thousand euro prize pool and a direct path to the League of Legends World Championship. Yet instead of delivering hype, this split has become one of the most controversial in recent years. For the first time, teams were divided into two separate groups, reducing their number of Group Stage matches from nine to just four. Fans were furious, claiming the format stripped away competitiveness, limited opportunities for teams to prove themselves, and damaged the build-up to Worlds.
To make matters worse, the league changed its tiebreaker rules mid-split, an embarrassing oversight that only fueled anger. Fans argued that Riot was playing fast and loose with rules in the middle of competition, further eroding trust in league management. Combined with years of poor international performance and a disappointing run at the recent Mid-Season Invitational, the outrage boiled over into one of the loudest backlashes the LEC has faced in years.
Bykov finally responded to the criticism on his personal account, admitting that the format did not work and vowing it will not return next year. He explained that Riot was under intense scheduling pressure because of overlapping events, including the Esports World Cup and VALORANT Champions Tour, which forced awkward match days on Mondays and Tuesdays. He also noted that the switch to best-of-three games, while intended to increase competitiveness, made a full round robin logistically impossible in the limited window between tournaments.
But excuses are no longer enough for fans who feel the league has been mismanaged at a critical time. With Worlds only weeks away, many believe the Summer Split failed to prepare EMEA teams properly for the international stage. Bykov promised that Riot has already begun working on a restructured format for 2026 with more competition days across the year and a system that directly reflects community feedback.
While this admission is a step forward, the damage has already been done. Fans are demanding accountability and want proof that Riot has learned from its mistakes. The Summer Split was supposed to be a celebration of Europe’s strength heading into Worlds, but instead it has become a symbol of frustration, disappointment, and questionable decision making from the league’s leadership.
The community is watching closely. If Riot fails to deliver on its promises for 2026, the trust between fans and the LEC could hit a breaking point. For now, Bykov’s words are being met with skepticism rather than relief.
Follow Gaming Moves on Instagram and Facebook for more updates, reactions, and deep dives into the biggest controversies shaping the world of esports.
