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Riot Games has today announced upcoming changes to the EMEA Regional League (ERLs) ecosystem for the 2025 competitive League of Legends season.
Tier-two ERLs sit below the tier-one LEC, and allow players and talent to compete in tournaments in their specific region. For example, the UK, Ireland and Nordics ERL is the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC).
Riot said: “As an integral part of LoL Esports in EMEA, our ERLs cultivate emerging talent and offer players a pathway to the highest levels of competition. To better support players, teams and TOs in Tier 2, we’re making some changes that we believe can help create a more sustainable ecosystem, as well as enhance the experience for communities locally.”
Riot also said further details about the Tier 2 format changes coming to LoL Esports in EMEA will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The six changes announced today are as follows:
TOs given ‘greater flexibility’ around their formats
One of the biggest changes Riot says it’s introducing in 2025 is offering TOs (tournament organisers) greater flexibility to create their competition formats.
“We recognise that local leagues have the best understanding of their local communities’ needs and preferences. So, while we’ll still have a structured split format in 2025 (with more details on that to come soon), we’ll allow more freedom to TOs to create split formats that are better tailored to serve their specific communities,” Riot said.
Relaxed requirements for co-streaming and broadcasts in ERLs
Riot is relaxing co-streaming and broadcasting requirements across its ERLs.
This means TOs will now have the option to host either studio or remote setups as part of their official broadcasts, without the need to air every match.
Additionally, TOs will have more flexibility when it comes to providing co-streaming rights to teams – allowing teams to co-stream all ERL matches at the TO’s discretion. This includes first-person view streams, giving fans the option to keep up with the action from the eyes of the players themselves.
Riot said:
“By relaxing broadcasting rules and offering a greater diversity of streaming possibilities, we hope these changes can enhance the viewing experience for fans, as well as give TOs more opportunities to tailor their experience to their fans’ needs.”
Riot Games
Teams will no longer need substitutes in 2025
For 2025, the requirement of having a substitute will be removed, with teams being able to sign an emergency substitution if required during an active competition.
All substitutes will need to meet the requirements highlighted in the rulebook, and they must be approved by the ERL’s respective TO.
“This adjustment will help reduce operational pressure on ERL teams, giving them the flexibility to adapt to their current situation more effectively,” Riot explained.
Minimum number of Locally Trained Representatives (LTRs) can be increased
In 2025, some ERLs might see an increase in locally trained representatives (LTRs), with TOs being provided with the opportunity to add one more slot per ERL at their discretion.
“This change aims to enable the promotion of local talent and nurture the growth of regional players in the hope of expanding and improving our talent pool throughout the region,” Riot said.
The current League of Legends ERL Rulebook (Version 1.3_27/5/2024) states in section 3.1.5: “Teams are required to have a minimum of three LTRs and four EMEA Residents (IMP) in their Team Roster at all times. In the Starting Line-up, Teams are required to have a minimum of two LTRs and three EMEA Residents at all times.”
An LTR is a Locally Trained Representative, someone who has ‘legally resided and been primarily present in the competitive area of the ERL for no less than 36 out of the last 60 months immediately prior to their participation in the first game of the applicable competition’.
Third-party event rules relaxed
“To promote the sustainability of our ERLs, we’ve decided to remove the requirement for hosting mandatory live events. This change allows TOs to focus their resources better, without the pressure of hosting in-person events,” Riot said.
Concurrently, Riot is also loosening the rules for participating in third-party competitions, allowing more competitive opportunities for ERL teams and players throughout EMEA, at the TO’s discretion.
“This change aims to create a more inclusive and free environment for aspiring players, allowing them the ability to showcase and hone their skills more regularly [in third-party competitions],” Riot said.
Second divisions no longer mandatory
Moving forward, it will no longer be mandatory for ERLs to have a 2nd Division. However, a promotion-relegation tournament will remain compulsory at least once throughout the competitive season, with the possibility of at least one team being promoted.
“These changes will help develop an open competitive environment which facilitates local players’ growth, while also guaranteeing the opportunity to fight for promotion,” Riot commented.
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Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
