In recent months, a growing trend has emerged in the professional League of Legends scene: teams are beginning to stream their scrims (practice matches) to the public. Traditionally, scrims have been kept behind closed doors to prevent rivals from analyzing strategies and player tendencies. However, some organizations and players have started challenging this norm, choosing transparency and fan engagement over secrecy.

Why Are Scrims Being Streamed?

One of the key reasons behind this shift is the increasing emphasis on content creation and audience interaction. Los Ratones, a team founded by popular caster and former pro player Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, has been at the forefront of this movement. With a roster featuring well-known streamers and professional players such as Simon "Baus" Hofverberg, Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek, and Martin "Rekkles" Larsson, the team has seamlessly integrated scrim streaming into its competitive and content strategies.

By broadcasting these practice sessions, they provide fans with unique insights into team communication, decision-making, and in-game strategy, further blurring the lines between competitive gaming and entertainment. This is the first time the audience can have a direct look into the day-to-day work of an esports athlete without having any filter to it. Additionally, streaming scrims helps organizations boost their brand exposure, attract sponsors, and maintain audience engagement outside official matches.

How Did Streamed Scrims Start?

The trend gained further momentum as a player like Gabriël "Bwipo" Rau voiced his support for streamed scrims, arguing that increased transparency could push the competitive scene toward greater improvement. The practice of streaming scrims initially gained traction among content-driven teams that prioritized entertainment alongside competition. Los Ratones' success demonstrated that scrim streaming could be a viable model, enhancing fan engagement and building stronger connections between players and their communities.

While some teams remain hesitant due to concerns about revealing tactics, the impact of streamed scrims is undeniable. This now impacts tier 1 leagues, particularly in North America, where viewership stakes are higher than elsewhere. Facing a decline in audience despite a rebranding earlier this year, they are not hesitating to take the necessary measures to repopularize and reinvigorate fan engagement in their league. FlyQuest, Bwipo’s team in the LTAN, has also recently started streaming their scrims while still competing in their first split after the league passed a temporary policy to allow all teams to do it. This is further proving the growing acceptance of this approach as Cloud9 has been the second team of the league to do so as their CEO Jack Etienne stated.

Certain figures in the scene, such as Paul "sOAZ" Boyer and Romain Bigeard, General Manager of G2 Esports, have publicly shared their views on the matter, stating that at such a high level of play, this approach is completely counterproductive to performance. One thing is certain: this topic will continue to be a point of discussion throughout the year, sparking debates in a context where teams aim to balance performance, and Riot Games seeks to reinvent viewer engagement within its ecosystem.