How Japan’s Gaming Culture Sparked a League of Legends Revolution

With modern gaming introducing players to so many innovations, it is only natural for older multiplayer titles to lose their popularity. A trend seen within these aging multiplayer games is usually a rapid decline in active player accounts, and eventually, a server shutdown. Jump Force, Back4Blood, and Left4Dead are some great examples of this happening to games that feel very recent. In comparison, League of Legends (LoL) has seen a surge in the number of active users on its server, almost tripling since 2022. More specifically, this is true based on its Japanese server, where active accounts have grown from 85K to 260K in recent years. 

The Esports Boom

Of course, this increase in player activity within Japanese servers has further boosted LoL into the competitive gaming spotlight. Despite always being an eSports title, the influx of new players makes it the perfect environment for professional gamers (or more competitive players). In turn, more eSports fans and punters have flocked toward betting on their favorite teams as a means of further interacting with the game. 

Looking at an eSports Insider analysis of the best League of Legends betting sites shows how they further appeal to players beyond having a more hands-on spectator experience. Players are privy to full coverage of major tournaments, fast payouts, flexible gaming options, and attractive bonuses on one of eSports’ (now) most popular games. A result of this surge in viewership and interest from punters has brought more sponsors and unique talent to the scene. 

The “Valorant Effect” and Streamer Influence

Similarly, the rise in popularity of other Riot Games titles (from casual gamers and in the eSports realm) has led to this sudden LoL surge. Add in the attention of popular Japanese streamers and the influence of Japanese gaming culture, and you have a LoL revolution. It can be argued that Valorant was the catalyst for this massive increase in LoL, with it (in essence) acting as a “gateway” to other Riot titles. With more and more Japanese influencers and streamers uploading gameplay content of these mainstream options, more fans rushed to install and try them out.

K4sen, a popular YouTuber and Twitch streamer, has become known as one of the most recognizable LoL players. The gamer decided to begin hosting amateur LoL tournaments, encouraging fans of the game to play competitively. With over 125K viewers on average (and from looking at this metric alone), it is understandable how player accounts have almost tripled in three years amongst this demographic. Other streams (specifically Vtubers), such as Gawr Gura, have further pushed the Riot Games title into the spotlight. In fact, it would seem that these mainstream influencers catching wind of the game resulted in it being introduced to a whole new gaming community. 

A Look at the Culture Shift

As mentioned, gaming culture in Japan is very different from that in other markets, and players take it very seriously. It is important to understand the broader implications of this to better uncover why LoL took off the way it did in Japan. For one, PC gaming and MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) were, historically speaking, not very popular. Instead, many gamers opted for console gaming, which eliminated an entire realm of games that players could have explored. However, the rise in streaming culture, especially during the pandemic, led many gamers away from strictly using a console to play games.

With PC, handheld, and mobile gaming thrown into the mix, previously inaccessible games for Japanese gamers became easier to obtain. Streamers broke down these traditional barriers and helped introduce players to MOBAs and other popular tactical FPS titles. Eventually, this led to the discovery of Valorant and LoL (an inevitable occurrence), which helped to build new gaming communities and make specific game genres more accessible. Even more, the entertainment aspect of watching a streamer or an esports team compete against one another was a secondary catalyst to the surge in player accounts. 

Riot Games’ Role in the Explosion

Naturally, with some popular Riot Games titles on the decline in other countries, it makes sense that the gaming studio might embrace this newfound boom. From a business perspective, a significant increase in players is always a good thing, especially with LoL being Riot’s flagship and most well-known title. Although the studio has yet to address this significant achievement publicly, it has not gone unnoticed by gaming enthusiasts and websites. There is much speculation on what this could mean for the studio and game, with it being a large topic of discussion within gaming communities.

Many theories are flying about, with some speculating that Riot Games might run initiatives or promotions specifically for the Japanese servers. In comparison, veteran LoL players have admitted that the game is passing its peak despite this new player surge, casting a rather negative shadow on Riot Games. A good strategic decision from the gaming studio would be to capitalize on this new fan base and focus on building a strong, new community. Looking at gaming communities that are new or are still finding their way may be a great way to duplicate the Japan server phenomenon on a global scale.