Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
A crowd cheers at DreamHack Melbourne for the LCO finals featuring Mindfreak and ORDER.
Photo via ESL/DreamHack

Riot ‘exploring solutions’ for new LoL circuit in Oceania just 4 years after last revamp

OCE League is dead... again.

Professional League of Legends in the Oceanic region is “dead” again for the second time since 2020, with the League Circuit Oceania (LCO) undergoing a revamp heading into next year.

Recommended Videos

In what feels like an announcement of an announcement that didn’t exactly touch on the professional scene’s future in the Australian-based region, Riot Games said it was “exploring solutions for a new OCE competitive circuit” for League in a Friday, Sept. 20 press release. “We have decided to revamp League of Legends esports in Oceania. This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one we believe is necessary to adapt to the evolving landscape and resource-intensive demands that come with operating an esports league,” Riot wrote.

A crowd at Dreamhack Melbourne 2022 sits in dim blue light of the finals. The Chiefs are on stage.
The LCO appears to be no more. Photo via Dot Esports

It wasn’t made clear whether the future league would keep its LCO moniker, but given Riot thanked the ESL FACEIT Group, Guinevere Capital, staff members, and players in the statement, it feels like a full rework is on the way for the region. Unfortunately, no details surrounding this revamp were shared, leaving many fans and players skeptical.

“Our focus will be on creating a more streamlined model for OCE that will have a pathway into our APAC League esports ecosystem in 2025,” Riot closed. Details on the next season’s league will be shared “soon”—but this was far from the assurance many in the scene had hoped to read.

The LCO’s dissolution comes just three years after it was founded and four years after the Riot-run Oceanic Pro League (OPL) collapsed in 2020. ESL and Guinevere Capital acquired a license to run the LCO for three years, but after numerous organizations pulled the plug in late 2023, many were worried for the future of competitive League Down Under.

Between the loss of OCE’s direct spot at Worlds to a shift to Asia-Pacific residency and drama surrounding organizations failing to pay players, OCE League fought on as it always has—and despite a cloudy future, many in the region still remain optimistic the scene can be salvaged.

LCO league manager Tim “Carbon” Wendel thanked all involved in the LCO over the past three years, making a special note to the players who had “put their lives on hold to chase their dream” and those behind the scenes who helped make the league tick. “It’s been a privilege to live out my dream over this past decade. The LCO was awesome.”

Dot Esports reached out to Riot for further details about the future of League in OCE but had not received a response by the time this article was published.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
More Stories To Read
Author
Image of Nicholas Taifalos
Nicholas Taifalos
Weekend editor for Dot Esports. Nick, better known as Taffy, began his esports career in commentary, switching to journalism with a focus on Oceanic esports, particularly Counter-Strike and Dota. Email: nicholas@dotesports.com