Riot Games is removing the home country quota in parts of its eSports and opening the door to “international” teams. But what does this mean for talent, identity, and advancement?
At the beginning of 2026, an old rule will be abolished: regional leagues for all Riot Games titles will now be able to decide for themselves whether to impose a quota for local players. Until now, at least three players had to have “Locally Trained Representative” (LTR) status.
In League of Legends, the Prime League will stick with the old model for the time being. In Valorant, the DACH region is taking a different approach: Challengers DACH: Evolution is abolishing the rule completely. This means that a German team could compete with a purely international lineup in the future.
What are the arguments in favor of this?
Adaptation to regional differences: Riot Games itself cites regional differences as the main reason for the rule change. A uniform regulation on local player quotas is not suitable for the different markets.
Alignment with the upper house: Riot Games’ highest European leagues, VCT and LEC, have no LTR rules. Regional leagues, on the other hand, have had to use players with local ties until now. By abolishing the requirement, Riot Games is ensuring greater consistency between the leagues. No competitive advantages for EMEA teams: In 2026, teams from regional leagues will be able to qualify for competitions against LEC and VCT teams. To be able to compete, they need maximum sporting freedom – including in the selection of their players.
Economic arguments: International players from regions with lower living costs are available for lower salaries. The abolition of the LTR rule allows German organizations to operate more cheaply and still remain competitive.
What are the arguments against it?
Talent development at risk: Without LTR rules, regional talent loses important opportunities. Those who are not already playing at the highest level will find it more difficult to showcase their skills. There are alternatives in Germany, such as Project V or the esports player foundation. But even now, only a few DACH talents are making the breakthrough. That number could become even smaller.
Inequality one level down: Although there is no longer a break between VCT and the Challenger League, LTR rules still apply in Project V. This means that anyone who wants to work their way up still has to meet conditions that no longer apply at the next level. The Prime League does not yet have any regulations on this.
Regional identity at risk: Building a regional identity without DACH players is a potential challenge for German organizations. Teams such as CGN and Eintracht Frankfurt will always belong to their home cities, but this is not the case for everyone. And what incentive would there be for a DACH league without DACH talent?
Disadvantage for committed organizations: Teams that deliberately focus on German players now have a harder time. They forego international options, while others take advantage of them. The sporting gap could widen further, even though such teams strive to promote local talent.
Risk of a European super league: Without LTR rules and clear promotion opportunities, the pressure on players to show themselves where EMEA’s top teams are looking increases. Leagues such as the Turkish Challengers or the French LFL could become super leagues—leaving other regional leagues behind.
