In a blow to the Australian eSports scene, the Oceanic Pro League (OPL) – along with Riot Games – have announced that they will be shutting down their Australian operations.
As the news spread to devastated gamers among the League of Legends scene, prominent teams and players began hinting at the closure, leading Riot to confirm that that the Oceanic Pro Leauge would be no more.
“So today we are announcing the dissolution of the OPL and the closure of Riot’s Sydney office, as it primarily focused on operating the league,” Riot said in a post, explaining that the Australian “market is not currently able to support a professional league.”
Soon after, many began tweeting their disappointment over the closure, with eSports commentator Max Anderson writing on Twitter: “Devastating news about the OPL today. Without OCE and all the wonderful people that built the flagship office down under I wouldn’t have been able to be a part of any of my proudest achievements in my life. I’d be in an office somewhere.”
OPL host Jake Tiberi also spoke of his sorrow over the loss, saying: “The OPL has been my livelihood for 6 years. I first started fulltime for Riot in 2015 and went full focus on what my dream was. I have been apart of 5 Worlds Broadcasts and 4 MSI Broadcasts. Today I feel nothing but sadness for everyone involved in League of Legends in OCE.”
Meanwhile, Aussie-based Legacy Esports has announced they will continue to compete in 2021, saying: “Following a standout year with 2 OPL titles and a record Worlds 2020 run we are saddened by today’s news that the Riot Games Oceania office is closing and with it the Oceanic Pro League as we know it.”
“We are excited for what League of Legends in Oceania looks like in 2021. OCE will retain its Mid Season Invitational and Worlds spots and we intend on qualifying for both.”
You can read Riot Games’ statement in full below:
“When we started this journey five years ago, we set out to build an esports scene in a region without a competitive esports presence. From those humble beginnings, we enabled top players to become pros, and we gave fans a place to cheer loudly.
“At Riot Games, we want to build competitive and sustainable leagues that drive commercial growth and fan engagement and that support professional play as a full-time career. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of our teams and players, the OPL has not met our goals for the league, and we do not believe that the market is currently able to support a professional league.
“So today we are announcing the dissolution of the OPL and the closure of Riot’s Sydney office, as it primarily focused on operating the league. However, this is not the end of League esports in OCE. We remain committed to supporting our pro players in the region with a path to continue their careers moving forward. Beginning with the 2021 season, we are adding OCE to the competitive territory for the LCS, so OCE players will no longer take an import slot on LCS rosters. This will open up new opportunities in North America for top OPL players. We will also hold qualifying tournaments in OCE for both MSI and Worlds in 2021, ensuring teams from the region will continue to be represented at our two major global events next season.
“With all that being said, Riot remains fully committed to supporting all players in OCE, and we are excited for what’s to come in 2021 and beyond.”
It is not yet known how many people at Riot will be affected by the office’s closure, or what assistance will be offered. It’s also unclear as to how this affects Valorant‘s local competitive future. It’s understood that Riot’s North American division will continue handling publishing duties for Australia.
