Introduction: The S15 season is almost over, and it’s believed that the vast majority of players have been paying attention to the recent clashes. The LPL region has once again entered a bleak phase. The LCK’s KT and T1 teams faced off in the finals, locking in the region’s championship ahead of time. After the semifinals, insiders from the LPL revealed a huge transfer news: surprisingly, two world-class champion teams from LPL might withdraw from competition. It seems the LPL is struggling to sustain growth, as such drastic team changes are unprecedented. However, Baixing, the owner of RNG, publicly responded in fan groups, indicating RNG has no plans to quit.

Two world champion teams from LPL to withdraw in S16.

Most players are quite familiar with the LPL region, which was once a top-tier competitive scene. In recent years, LPL’s growth has been rapid, with an increasing number of teams, but overall performance has declined. The recent World Championship mirrored the disastrous S7 season, with two LCK teams meeting again in the finals on home soil. The current LPL season has ended, and the upcoming transfer period is crucial. Whether S16 can redeem itself depends on these roster changes. Yet insiders have revealed shocking news: LPL is about to undergo massive upheaval.

LPL insider Hanyi publicly stated that RNG and FPX will withdraw next season, reducing the league to 14 teams in S16. The decade-long league agreement still has two years left but team slots will continue to shrink. The era of complacency is over; it's time for a reset and a fresh start. Some even shared that LGD and UP might also leave LPL. The region clearly needs major reforms. Without new teams joining, relying on old squads only leads to scattered talent and poor results. Many feel the league should be trimmed to just ten teams, like LCK.

Hanyi also mentioned that the LPL salary cap will be cut by another 30% this year. Mid-to-lower tier pros complain about rapidly decreasing wages, but many fans view this positively — the era of esports players living off dividends is over. Only strong performance will yield higher earnings. Some insiders even hinted that certain sponsors, including top-tier ones, might pull out. Offline ticket sales reflect this decline in popularity; the LPL’s hype has completely faded, with some staff even dressing as fans to cheer from the stands.

After hearing the likely withdrawal of RNG and FPX, some fans asked questions in groups. RNG’s owner Baixing publicly fired back, asking if he’s the boss of both FPX and RNG, implying there might still be twists ahead. Hanyi also revised his statement, changing the confirmed teams to uncertain ones, saying nothing is finalized yet. Sometimes his leaks should be taken lightly and just for fun, especially since even team owners have publicly denied them. Many hope RNG and FPX stay, as these two teams still hold significant brand value.

Farewell thoughts.

Previously, coach Hongmi openly said in an interview that LPL has too many teams with uneven quality, and practice matches lack strong opponents. To catch up with LCK, the number of teams must be reduced. RNG currently lacks players and faces serious financial issues. If they don’t sell their slot or withdraw next season, it’s unclear how they will build a roster. Perhaps this valuable IP should be handed over to a more capable organization.

What do you all think about this situation?