Riot Games has officially confirmed the League of Legends EMEA Championship will continue operating from its Berlin studio through the 2027 season. The statement puts to rest recent speculation about the league’s future location and format.
The confirmation comes after rumors circulated suggesting Riot might shut down the Berlin facility or transition the LEC to an online-based regular season format. The speculation gained traction through various sources in the esports scene, creating uncertainty about the league’s operational future.
Riot’s statement makes clear the Berlin base is secure for at least the next two competitive years. The wording specifically commits to operating through 2027, though it leaves what happens from 2028 onward unaddressed.
The Berlin studio has been the LEC’s home for years and houses far more than just a stage. The facility includes broadcast control rooms, team areas, match infrastructure, and all the technical equipment needed to produce weekly shows. It represents a significant operational investment that provides consistency in production quality.
Studio-based competition offers clear advantages over online play. LAN environments eliminate home network instability and reduce ping variance between players. They also make it easier to maintain competitive integrity by controlling the match environment and standardizing equipment.
The COVID-19 era demonstrated these differences clearly. When leagues moved online, technical pauses increased dramatically. Ping disparities became talking points after matches. The controlled environment of a physical venue removes many of these variables.
Riot’s time-bounded commitment reflects standard esports planning cycles. Multi-year budgeting and venue contracts typically run in similar windows, allowing organizations to revisit their strategy based on costs, viewership, and sponsorship performance.
