The involvement of LCS teams in North America’s amateur scene continues to decline as developmental requirements undergo recent changes.
Golden Guardians has announced that the organization will be opting out of the North American Challengers League (NACL) for the foreseeable future.
This decision follows Team Liquid’s confirmation of its continued participation in the amateur league, as well as TSM and Immortals stepping away after Riot Games’ announcement that involvement of LCS organizations in the NACL would be optional.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Golden Guardians expressed gratitude towards the developmental system that has allowed players to grow and improve. The organization emphasized that this move is in the best long-term interest of the team, but it remains open to monitoring the NACL and other developmental opportunities in the future.
Golden Guardians will provide financial assistance to all affected players and coaching staff due to this change. The organization has not announced any plans for former NACL players or coaches to join the LCS for the upcoming Summer Split, which is scheduled to commence on June 1 with a rematch of the Spring finals.
Team Liquid’s CEO, Steve Arhancet, discussed various issues within the amateur scene in a recent video.
He cited convoluted pathways for player involvement and the mixture of professional and developing talent as factors that make the amateur scene unappealing for most LCS teams. Arhancet also mentioned that other LCS teams are expected to make their decisions regarding their future in the NACL by the end of the day.
The LCS Players Association, led by current players from the league’s 10 teams, has expressed strong opposition to Riot Games’ changes to NACL requirements. They highlight the potential impact on job security for many individuals overnight.
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