With the EMEA Masters 2024 Summer Edition and the LEC 2024 Season Finals rapidly approaching, Sheep Esports sat down with Maximilian Peter "MAXtheX" Schmidt to discuss the circumstances surrounding the events and the future of the ecosystem in 2025. In this exclusive piece, the current director of League of Legends Esports in the EMEA region delves into several topics, including Fearless Draft, Live Patches, LEC Guest Spots, changes to the EMEA Masters, and the sustainability of Regional Leagues.

Can you explain what you do at Riot Games as the current Director of LoL Esports in the EMEA region?

Maximilian Peter "MAXtheX" Schmidt: I'm the Director for League of Legends Esports in EMEA, as you just mentioned. That means I'm leading the product management teams responsible for both the LEC, as well as the ERLs and EMEA Masters. Those teams report to me. We have Artem Bykov leading the LEC team with the new title of LEC Commissioner, which I previously held, and we have Andrey Korshunov taking care of both the ERLs and EM product teams.

In March, Riot Games announced a new format for the EMEA Masters, which was received negatively. With major changes on the horizon in 2025, could you first explain the reasoning behind those initial changes?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: Yeah, I can pull the curtain back a little bit on how we think about formats and how often we iterate. We constantly evaluate our formats to see what they do well and where they can improve. Sometimes other factors require certain changes. As you mentioned earlier, we are moving to a new season structure in 2025, as announced by John Needham (Global President of LoL Esports). That meant we knew EMEA Masters would naturally have to change too. So, the ERL and EM teams sat together to ensure we have a proper solution for 2025. We looked at 2024 as an experimentation ground to try something new and use it as a transition period between the old system of EM and the potential new system for 2025.

That's how we arrived at the new format for EM for 2024 Summer, which was not well received. While there’s no right or wrong format, there are always trade-offs. The biggest one for EM is always about representation versus competition. We want to ensure all regions feel represented and part of the ecosystem, while also making it a very competitive tournament. Many ERL players are competing for a potential slot as LEC players, and we want to make sure they have a chance to showcase their talent. It's a balance between these factors.

You could argue that if we went full competition, more teams from the stronger regions like France would participate, as they are historically strong. But that goes against our goal of ensuring everyone gets to participate. I think we overcorrected and went too far in ensuring value behind these slots, overvaluing first positions in smaller regions that might not be as competitive. That feedback is valuable and part of the reason we went back on the initial idea. Ultimately, Riot prides itself on being the most player-focused company in the world. We take feedback seriously and appreciate everyone who voiced their opinion, whether they are tournament organizers, ERL teams, or anyone on social media.

How much influence did tournament organizers have on the decision-making process for the new format and the recent changes announced in June?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: So, when we think about our ecosystem, we really see it as a partnership. As you mentioned, we have our tournament organizers, most of whom we've been working with for years. We see them as part of the ecosystem and are in partnership with them. Every step of the way, we want to ensure that they are in the loop on why we are making certain decisions and when something needs to change. We want to make sure they can raise concerns, provide feedback, and work with us on potential implementation.

Frankly, the ERL TOs as partners have been critical in shaping the entire ecosystem as it is today, and EM is naturally a part of that as well. While there are certain restrictions and requirements for ERL partners, just as there are for executing and operating EM, we want to ensure that we treat it as a partnership. I believe we've been doing that successfully for a couple of years already with many of them. We want to continue on that route to ensure the ecosystem thrives together.

Following the EMEA Masters format changes, some regions like Spain & the Benelux have canceled plans to host offline events for their regional tournaments due to the re-scheduling of the tournament. What are your thoughts on these drawbacks, and were they taken into account when deciding on the new format?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: Yeah, absolutely. As I mentioned earlier, there isn’t a definitive right or wrong when it comes to formats. There are various trade-offs, and you have to decide what you value more. In this case, part of the reason we didn’t implement the 2025 plan in 2024 was due to these considerations. We wanted to be a bit more cautious and flexible. Scheduling events with over 60 teams requires significant resources and planning, and it takes a substantial chunk out of the calendar, which makes it difficult for other events to run in parallel.

This is not ideal for this year, and it’s a natural result of making this shift. We’ve been working closely with all the partners throughout this process to keep everyone informed about the trade-offs we’re making. For 2025, we expect to have more flexibility and more time to plan accordingly. Unfortunately, the relatively last-minute nature of this change did not allow for that this time around.

The Fearless draft format has been a major topic of discussion following its implementation in regional tournaments like the NACL and LPL. Are there any plans to introduce fearless drafts in the EMEA Masters in 2025 and beyond, considering its growing popularity in other leagues?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: I think Fearless Draft is very exciting. There are various versions of Fearless, so we need to clarify which version we're talking about. Generally, the concept of bans persisting or champions persisting and then being removed from the pool, leading to deeper champion diversity, is very exciting. It’s also more similar to the experience most people have at home when they queue for a game. It brings esports and the game closer together, which I think is really awesome.

So, why didn’t we implement it this year? The truth is, we’ve already made a lot of changes for this year. We want to be cautious and avoid distorting the data too much. I know everyone is excited about the new format, and I am too. I’m happy it’s being well received, but we need to see how it performs operationally. This is the biggest tournament we’ve had so far in this regard, and there will be many aspects we need to manage during execution. We also need to observe how players react to the event, as perceptions can change over time. We want to ensure we view this year’s format with a clear, unbiased perspective. Fearless Draft is still on the table for 2025 as a potential addition to the system.

The LCS has been using live patches to better align pro play with viewer experience. However, the EMEA region still uses older patches, and there’s a gap between regional leagues and the EMEA Masters—ERLs played their playoffs on 14.13, but the EM will be on 14.15. How are you addressing this?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: So, I think there are two parts to this question. First, regarding our satisfaction with the patch delta between when patches launch and when they are implemented in tournaments: this is something we constantly evaluate. I want to give a shoutout to the LCS for trying out this approach. It’s very interesting, and we want to learn from their experience to see how well it worked. There are pros and cons to this method, and we’ll consider these when planning for 2025.

As for the EMEA Masters, it's a similar trade-off situation. We either play on an older patch, which might make it harder for viewers to connect as the tournament progresses because of major changes, or we use a newer patch, which poses a challenge for teams at the start but can lead to better competition by the end of the tournament. A newer patch is often more beneficial for finding scrim partners and improving solo queue practice, as it aligns better with the current competitive environment. Neither option is perfect, but we decided that using the newer patch was the better choice. In general, if there’s a reasonable balance, we advocate for the more recent patch because it enhances the viewing experience and the overall competition.

Webedia, the organizers of the LFL, are now coming in as a new operator for the EMEA Masters, similar to how ESL used to run the EU Masters at its inception. Are there specific reasons behind this change? Have the layoffs in January influenced this decision?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: I'll start with the last question and work my way through the rest. So, the layoffs and Webedia taking over are not connected at all. This decision was something we had been working on with Webedia for a significant amount of time. As you mentioned, the origin of EM involves being operated by a partner. One reason Riot decided to take it in-house was that we believed we could create a better product for the fans and the ecosystem by managing it directly and building a new platform. We also did the rebranding and made other changes.

Now, we are fortunate to have Webedia as our partner. They’ve been a long-term collaborator and do incredible work with the LFL. We’re very happy with them and impressed by the level of fandom they generate in the French market. Their product looks fantastic. We’re returning to the initial concept of giving the ecosystem to the partner as part of our overall licensing system. We run all the ERLs via licensing systems, and the same was originally planned for EM. We’re in a great position with Webedia eager to take on this responsibility. We’ve already worked with them in Spring, and they’ve done an excellent job. I’m very excited to see the Summer iteration of EM. I know they are also very keen to see how the new format will work out. There’s a lot to look forward to in the next EM iteration.

With the upcoming changes to the global esports circuit in 2025, including a new license cycle for ERLs and a potential three-split format, how will the ERLs adapt, and can we expect them to also move to a three-split format?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: I can’t share too many details about what things will look like in 2025 just yet. However, I can confirm that there will be some changes. As mentioned, we’re moving to a three-split structure globally and adding a third international event. This means there will need to be adjustments at the ERL and EM levels, including potentially to the schedule. Without these changes, the system wouldn’t function as it does now.

We are still working with our partners on this new structure, which is why I can’t provide detailed information at this point. I can promise that there will be changes, and we will ensure to keep everyone updated along with our partners once we have more details.

Despite positive changes to the ecosystem, we have seen a slow deterioration of the regional leagues as a product. With high organizational turnover and reduced viewership in most leagues, how does Riot view the current health of the ERL system, and what steps are being taken to address these issues?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: When it comes to sustainability, it’s at the forefront of everyone’s thinking—Riot, all the ERL partners, and the teams participating in the ERLs. As we approach the new license cycle for the next year, we want to ensure we’re doing what's best for the entire ecosystem in the long run. This means helping our partners with regulations and changes to make things more sustainable. We're working closely with them to ensure we’re on a path that supports long-term sustainability.

The good news is we’re on a positive trajectory. I’m very optimistic about the future of the ecosystem. Our partners are excited about it and eager to continue collaborating with us. Regarding team turnover, it’s somewhat expected. It happens across regions, whether in the LEC or ERLs. Businesses need to be run profitably to survive. They might break even or run at a loss for a while, but there should be a path to sustainability and profitability.

It's challenging to comment on every detail from Berlin, as it depends on each business's individual circumstances. What’s critical for us is setting up tournament organizers to be sustainable. With the new license, we’re making significant changes to improve sustainability in the ecosystem. We’re also creating frameworks for TOs to work with their teams to ensure better opportunities for sustainability at the regional and local levels. Not every team or organization will succeed, but we aim to improve the overall chance of success and continue working to make the ecosystem better for everyone involved.

With the rise of ERL teams like Karmine Corp, Heretics, KOI, and GIANTS, and the introduction of guest spots in the Americas’ newly merged leagues in 2025, has there been any consideration of adding a similar guest spot to the LEC in the future?

Maximilian Peter Schmidt: Always a consideration, but it would require a complete overhaul of the ecosystem. I want to make it clear that there are no current plans to implement this change. To introduce guest spots, we would need to collaborate with the LEC teams and all our partnered ERL TOs to find a way forward. Currently, this idea conflicts with our ecosystem philosophy.

The current system replaces the old Challenger Series. It involves regional competition feeding into EM, with a player pathway from the ERLs to EM and then to the LEC. Adding guest slots for ERLs would disrupt this transition and shift the focus away from developing and moving talent into the LEC. We’ve seen successful talent progression and organizations holding onto players to build competitive rosters.

While the idea of promotion and relegation is appealing, implementing it would require a complete revision of the ecosystem. At present, there are no plans to make such changes. We are focused on maintaining a sustainable system for both the LEC and the ERLs. We’re also very pleased with the reception of EM and look forward to hosting the roadshow in Munich. Tickets are selling very quickly, and we expect it to be the biggest roadshow we’ve ever had. We’re excited about it, but we’re not looking to make major shifts to the ecosystem right now.

Munich—The Biggest Roadshow Yet?

As the LEC 2024 Summer Playoffs end, many more competitions are starting. LEC Season Finals and EMEA Masters are heading to Munich at the end of August:

You can get your ticket for this end-of-season event by following this link.