TL;DR
- Doublelift participated in the LCS walkout despite disagreeing with many LCSPA demands he considered unreasonable
- He proposed reducing LCS teams from 10 to 8 to improve competitive quality rather than expanding through promotion/relegation
- The veteran player criticized Riot’s abrupt removal of Academy requirements without warning to affected players
- Doublelift advocated for tournament prize pools over fixed salary floors as better motivation for Tier 2 talent
- The walkout represented a stand against poor communication rather than full endorsement of specific demands
Professional League of Legends veteran Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng recently broke his silence regarding the groundbreaking player walkout that shook the North American esports scene to its core.
Riot Games implemented a seismic policy shift by eliminating the mandatory Academy team requirement for LCS franchise organizations, triggering immediate roster dismantlements across the league.
The LCS Players’ Association organized a collective walkout involving all professional competitors, nearly forcing Riot to permit emergency signings of lower-tier talent to preserve the Summer Split schedule. However, the developer issued an official statement threatening complete cancellation of the split, which would eliminate LCS representation at the World Championship.
While the broader League community expressed strong disapproval, professional players maintained strategic silence during negotiation periods. Doublelift’s emergence as a vocal commentator provided crucial insight into the player perspective.
Doublelift’s Critical Analysis of LCSPA Demands
The iconic 100 Thieves competitor released a comprehensive YouTube analysis on June 3rd detailing his complex position on the collective action. Despite participating alongside teammates, he expressed significant reservations about the specific proposals advanced by the players’ union.
Doublelift characterized numerous LCSPA requests as fundamentally “unreasonable” and misaligned with collective competitive interests. He specifically questioned the proposed “Valorant-style” promotion and relegation system, arguing it would damage LCS competitiveness given the limited pool of LCS-caliber players available.
“Rather than expanding the league through additional slots, we should strategically reduce team count to eight organizations. The current structure suffers from diluted talent distribution across too many roster spots,” Doublelift explained to his audience.
He further critiqued the union’s $300,000 minimum revenue allocation per NACL team for player compensation. While supporting reasonable financial safeguards, he considered the $60,000 per player figure excessive and counterproductive. Instead, he advocated reinstating competitive prize pools for Tier 2 tournaments to properly incentivize player development.
Doublelift maintained critical distance from Riot’s position as well, clearly articulating the company’s mishandling of Tier 2 competitive infrastructure. He emphasized the ethical failure in implementing policy changes without adequate warning to affected individuals.
“Players deserved basic notification before their professional environment faced complete dismantlement,” the veteran stated emphatically.
This balanced perspective explains why he supported the walkout despite reservations about specific demands. Doublelift sought to demonstrate solidarity against abrupt decision-making that eliminated careers without consultation.
However, his support contained clear limitations. The competitor openly acknowledged he would abandon the walkout if it jeopardized the Summer Split entirely, prioritizing competitive integrity over protest escalation.
Common Strategic Mistake: Many organizations prioritize immediate cost-cutting over long-term talent development, creating cyclical roster instability that damages both competitive quality and brand value. Sustainable esports ecosystems require balanced investment across both premier and developmental tiers.
Practical Solution: Implement graduated warning systems for major structural changes, allowing players 60-90 days to adjust career plans accordingly.
The LCS currently operates under an extended two-week hiatus while stakeholders negotiate potential resolutions. Competitive action may resume as early as June 15, 2023, depending on negotiation outcomes.
Optimization Tip for Organizations: Rather than completely abandoning Academy investments, consider hybrid models that maintain scouting and development pipelines at reduced operational costs.
For players navigating this uncertain landscape, focusing on strategic specialization similar to class optimization in games can improve marketability despite reduced opportunities.
Action Checklist
- Advocate for graduated implementation timelines (60-90 days) for major structural changes
- Research and implement cost-effective talent development models that maintain competitive pipelines
- Develop personal brand and specialized skills to remain competitive in evolving landscape
- Explore structured competitive frameworks that balance immediate and long-term goals
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Doublelift frustrated with Riot, discusses walkout situation Veteran LCS player Doublelift breaks down his nuanced stance on the player walkout and Tier 2 scene crisis