Riot Games introduces Twitch subscriptions for LoL esports broadcasts

Riot Games has announced it is introducing Twitch subscriptions across several channels broadcasting League of Legends esports.

The initiative aims to provide fans with better viewing experiences in addition to supporting the leagues and the teams participating in them.

Subscribers will earn a variety of benefits ranging from ad-free viewing to a Subscriber-only chat where fans can take part in exclusive discussions while watching broadcasts.

In addition to the benefits, those who pay for a Tier 1 Subscription will earn exclusive in-game rewards. For the first Split of 2025, subscribers will earn the ‘Why Though?’ emote.

Riot Games started the initiative with the LCP’s Japanese Twitch channel and intends to roll it out across other LCP channels, the LEC, LTA, and LCK between January 15th and January 18th.

Rewards are exclusively available for paid and gifted subscriptions. This means that Prime subscriptions are ineligible to claim the rewards.

In addition, the emotes available to subscribers will be available to use across other Twitch channels.

In the announcement. League of Legends’ developer states the initiative ‘provides fans with a meaningful way to support their favourite leagues directly’. A portion of the revenue generated by Twitch subscriptions will go to the Global Revenue Pool which supports Riot Games’ leagues and teams across the world.

Rolling out Twitch subscriptions follows Riot Games’ test which took place in August 2024.

The test occurred during last year’s LCS playoffs and provided the developer with an opportunity to explore features that would expand the experience of League of Legends esports fans watching streams.

The rollout coincides with the start of League of Legends’ first splits taking place across EMEA, the Americas, China and Korea. Following the league’s first splits, attention will quickly turn towards the inaugural First Stand event taking place in March.