League of Legends has been a force to be reckoned with since 2009. Developed by Riot Games, LoL quickly became the go to MOBA and attracted millions of players with its depth and competition. Over the years LoL has shaped the gaming world and left its mark on the esports scene, it’s one of the most watched and celebrated esport globally.
The game’s impact goes beyond player engagement. LoL has influenced pop culture, spawned a ton of media and created a community of content creators and fans. But despite its enduring popularity a question has been growing: Is League of Legends declining? This article looks into the latest numbers and trends to answer that question.
Current Player Stats
To understand the current state of League of Legends we need to look at its active player base. According to UnrankedSmurfs’ blog LoL has a strong and active player base globally.
- Monthly Active Users (MAU): LoL has 140-160 million monthly active users. That puts LoL in the top online games in the world and shows its still very popular and widely played.
- Daily Active Users (DAU): Daily LoL has 25-35 million players. Those numbers are consistent and show the game is able to retain players and keep them engaged through regular updates and new content.
These numbers show LoL’s presence in the gaming world. While there are minor fluctuations in certain regions the overall player base is still big. For more numbers and analysis about LoL Population size check out UnrankedSmurfs’ blog post.
LoL’s global reach is a big factor in its enduring popularity. The player distribution across regions shows where the game is strongest.
China: The Biggest Region
China is the biggest region for LoL with around 75 million players. That’s a huge player base and it’s supported by Riot Games’ partnership with Tencent which has been instrumental in localizing and promoting the game. The partnership with Tencent has not only grown LoL’s presence in China but also brought in new players.
Korea: Second Biggest
Korea is the second biggest region with 19.8 million players. Known for its esports culture Korea is still a big player in both player count and competitive performance. The country’s esports scene has kept the LoL community engaged and competitive.
Europe West (EUW), North America (NA), Europe Nordic & East (EUNE): Big Player Bases
- Europe West (EUW): EUW is still a big hub for LoL with a big player base from countries like France, Germany and UK.
- North America (NA): NA has around 1.5 million ranked players from the US, Canada and surrounding areas. While there has been a decline in recent years NA is still a strong presence.
- Europe Nordic & East (EUNE): EUNE still supports a big number of players and helps with the overall player distribution of LoL.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA): New Frontier
LoL expanded its global reach by launching the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) server on June 25, 2024. This new server serves the growing demand in the Middle East region and provides a more localized and better experience for players. The launch of MENA server was followed by TFT mobile’s ME server on August 14, 2024 and shows Riot Games’ effort to reach new audiences and support multiple player bases. Check out Riot’s Middle East Server Launch Guide for more details.
In general while NA and EUW have declined LoL’s global presence is still big and growing thanks to the expansion in MENA and strong performance in China and Korea.
Esports and Revenue
LoL is not just a game it’s a big player in the esports industry. It’s influence extends to the financial world and contributes to Riot Games’ revenue and the overall esports economy.
Revenue: $1.5 Billion in 2023
In 2023 LoL generated $1.5 billion. That’s a big number driven by various revenue streams: in-game purchases, esports events, sponsorships and merchandise sales. The game’s free-to-play model with microtransactions for skins, champions and other cosmetic items means a steady revenue flow.
Esports Scene
LoL’s esports scene is the backbone of its enduring popularity. The World Championship Finals is the highlight of the year, with millions of viewers worldwide. These high stakes tournaments show top play and community pride among fans.
- World Championship Finals: The event gets millions of viewers every year making it one of the most watched esports events globally. The competition and national rivalries keeps fans engaged and invested in the outcome.
- Regional Leagues: Leagues like LCK (League of Legends Champions Korea), LCS (League Championship Series) in North America and LEC (League of Legends European Championship) helps keep the game competitive. These regional leagues is the breeding ground for talent and keeps the competitive spirit alive all year round.
League of Legends: Wild Rift
The mobile version of LoL, League of Legends: Wild Rift, also generates revenue through in-app purchases. Wild Rift brings LoL to mobile players and taps into a different market and additional revenue streams for Riot Games.
In general LoL’s strong esports presence and multiple revenue streams means the game is a big and influential game in the gaming industry.
Account Purchases and Grinding
A big part of the LoL community is buying accounts for grinding purposes. Platforms like UnrankedSmurfs serves this demand by offering various accounts including Iron LoL accounts which are very popular among new and struggling players.
Grinding and Account Purchases
Grinding in LoL means playing multiple games to improve your rank in the competitive ladder. This can be time consuming especially for players who have other commitments. To speed up this process many players turn to account purchasing services.
Why Purchase Accounts
Buying accounts has several advantages:
- Quick Access to Higher Ranks: You can play in higher ranked games right away, no need to grind from the beginning.
- Try Different Roles: Account buying allows you to try out different roles and champions without affecting your main account’s progress.
- Social Proof: Having a higher ranked account can boost your reputation in the community, makes it easier to join competitive teams or gain respect among peers.
Ethics
Buying accounts is popular but comes with ethical concerns. Riot Games’ policy strictly prohibits account sharing and buying which can lead to ban if detected. Also this can disrupt the competitive balance as players on bought accounts may not have the same skill level as their rank suggests. Despite the risks, the demand for account buying is still strong, it means there’s a gap in the game’s progression system.
In general the account buying trend shows how competitive LoL is and how far players will go to improve their gaming experience.
That’s why it’s essential you purchase your LoL Accounts from trusted providers.
Player Trends and Future Outlook
League of Legends has gone through various ups and downs in player count over the years, it shows both the game’s longevity and the challenges it faces in the ever changing gaming landscape.
Player Count Fluctuations: Highs and Lows
- Highs: Major updates, new champion releases and big esports events usually causes a spike in player count. For example in February 2022 LoL reached 14 million players in a single day due to a big patch and in-game events.
- Lows: Natural ups and downs happens, like the 9.9 million player count in June 2023. This decline can be due to various reasons, the end of peak gaming period like the COVID-19 pandemic and new games coming out and diverting attention.
Despite these fluctuations LoL still has a strong and dedicated player base and will always be present in the competitive gaming scene.
Riot Games’ Efforts to Attract and Retain Players
Riot Games is doing:
- New Ranks: The addition of new rank like Emerald helps balance the competitive ladder, makes it more rewarding to climb and has a clear progression path.
- Regular Updates: Continuous updates, new champions, reworks and game modes keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.
- Community Engagement: Riot actively engages with the community through forums, social media and in-game events so player feedback is heard and addressed.
Community Engagement and Regular Updates
Regular updates and community events is key to keeping players interested. Riot Games listens to player feedback and implement changes to the game. Seasonal events, limited time game modes and special promotions keeps the game dynamic and makes players come back regularly.
Future
Moving forward Riot Games is looking to expand LoL’s presence through new server launches like MENA and improve the overall player experience with continuous innovation. The addition of new ranks and game modes is to balance the competitive scene making it more accessible and enjoyable for all players.
Most Active Regions
Knowing where the most active players are helps us understand LoL’s global appeal and where to grow.
China: The Highest Region
China is still the top region for LoL, with the Super Server having over 70 million players monthly. The partnership with Tencent has been instrumental in maintaining China’s massive player base and keeping LoL as the top game in the region.
Europe West (EUW): A Major Hub
Europe West (EUW) is the second largest server outside of China, with players from countries like France, Germany and UK. EUW’s strong infrastructure and active community is the reason for its high player count making it a major hub for competitive play.
South Korea: Punching Above Its Weight
South Korea is still punching above its weight, having high player count compared to its population. With a strong esports culture Korea is a hotbed for competitive LoL and contributes a lot to the game’s overall performance and engagement.
North America (NA): Stable
North America (NA) completes the top 4, with around 1.5 million monthly players from US, Canada and surrounding countries. NA has been declining in recent years but still a key market for LoL with a dedicated player base and a thriving esports scene.
Impact of New Server Launches
The new MENA server will further expand LoL’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa and diversify the global player base.
This will not only increase player numbers but also the localized gaming experience, making it easier for players in these regions to connect and compete.
Cultural Diversity
LoL’s global presence is evident in its player demographics. Players from over 145 countries play the game, bringing in a wide range of cultures and perspectives. This diversity makes the gaming experience more interesting and the sense of global community and competition.
Is LoL Still Popular?
Despite some dips in certain regions LoL is not dying. With over 100 million monthly active players the game is still a major player in the gaming world.
LoL’s daily engagement is strong, millions of players log in every day. The introduction of Emerald rank has also improved player distribution making competitive play more balanced and fun. The continuous effort to balance and refine the game keeps players engaged and invested.
The competitive scene is alive, with World Championship Finals getting millions of viewers worldwide. These big events not only increase viewership but also player engagement as fans want to see their favorite teams play on the global stage.
The continued purchase of accounts for grinding, including Iron accounts, shows that competitive play and progression is still in demand.
New Content and Updates
Riot Games is always releasing new content, champions, skins and game modes keeping the game fresh and interesting. Regular updates and seasonal events ensures players always have something to look forward to and the game stays relevant over the years.
In summary, LoL is still a popular and engaging game with a strong and active player base.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
LoL is one of the most popular and longest running games in the online gaming world even in 2025. With 140-160 million monthly active players and 25-35 million daily active players LoL is still getting a massive global audience.
The launch of MENA server and other regional expansions shows Riot Games is committed to expanding LoL’s global presence. By providing localized experience Riot makes players from different regions feel valued and taken care of and that’s adding to the game’s global appeal.
LoL’s esports scene is a big factor in its sustained popularity. Big events like World Championship Finals gets millions of viewers, creating a strong sense of community and competitive spirit among fans. The success of these events not only increases viewership but also revenue through sponsorships and broadcasting rights.
Riot Games’ continuous innovation keeps LoL fresh and interesting. Regular updates, new champions and seasonal events ensures players always have something new to play and enjoy. And the introduction of new rank Emerald helps improve player distribution and balance making competitive play more rewarding.
Despite some dips in certain regions LoL’s overall player base is still strong and active. The continued purchase of accounts for grinding, including Iron accounts shows competitive play and progression is still in demand. Platforms like UnrankedSmurfs is meeting this demand by providing players the tools to enhance their play.
Future Outlook
LoL’s future is looking good with strong player base and thriving esports scene. Riot Games expansion to new regions, new content and community support will keep LoL a big player in the gaming world. As long as Riot listens to player feedback and adapt to the changing gaming landscape LoL will continue to attract millions of players worldwide.