Building upon its success in VALORANT, Riot Games has expanded its Game Changer program to include League of Legends. Revealed on August 24, in a post on the LoL Esports website, LCS Game Changers looks to build diversity in the scene.
Introducing #LCS Game Changers, Coming September 2021
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) August 24, 2021
Learn more at: https://t.co/gM7Die4P67 pic.twitter.com/eMXpIBnpMf
Previously, Riot had revealed the original Game Changers program for VALORANT. That initiative sought to help “marginalized genders within Valorant.” To that aim it formed a fully-fledged competitive ecosystem for women’s Valorant. In supporting teams and offering prize pools for teams, the program looked to make women’s Valorant.
LCS Game Changers will differ from it’s Valorant counterpart in a number of ways. Instead of of looking to support teams and tournaments, the will instead focus on high ELO LoL players. The program aims to mentor and work with these players to transition them into amateur and professional players.
However, in spite of the differences, the aim for both programs is the same: To support women in the esports space.
With the success of Valorant Game Changers, Riot has now announced LCS Game Changers, a way for women to eventually be fed into the amateur and professional leagues
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) August 24, 2021
Ya love to see it, hope more games follow suit pic.twitter.com/G5F3bAS6qH
The program aims to take 10 players to field two teams. Over the course of a two-week training camp, Game Changers will support the selected players with a “life as a pro” experience. Scrims, VOD reviews, and panels will support players and will hopefully help them secure a place on an amateur or pro team in the future.
Just like its predecessor this initiative has lofty goals. But even so, it’s an admirable effort by Riot Games to attempt to support women entering professional play.
Applications for the program are open now, and candidates can apply here. Selection is set to take place on September 3rd, and the event proper will take place between September 27th until October 8th, concluding with a best-of-five between both teams of candidates.