News - League of Legends takes action against smurfing after 17 years

After being a longstanding issue since its launch, League of Legends is taking a firm stand against 'smurfing', the act of playing on an account lower-ranked than one's main. The change marks a significant shift in policy after 17 years of the game's existence. Despite smurfing's prevalence, stemming from top players creating new accounts for additional challenges or content, the practice severely affects fair play. Riot Games has now categorized it as 'rank manipulation', introducing potential penalties through their new report-a-player system. Smurfing has long caused frustration in the community, as less-skilled players found themselves outmatched against experienced players posing as rookies. This shift comes as Riot evaluates competitive integrity and player experience, having previously tolerated smurfing due to restrictions like disabling duo queues at high ranks, which had limited high-level players. With the removal of such limits, Riot aims to address this issue more effectively. While details about the enforcement and specific penalties remain vague, the move to include smurfing in the report system's 'rank manipulation' category signals Riot's commitment to enhancing competitive fairness. However, questions linger about the enforcement rigor and whether this new measure will have a tangible impact akin to other unenforced reporting categories. The company has not clarified beyond the addition to the reporting system, leaving the community eager for more information on how this change will be implemented. This policy update is part of a larger effort to maintain a balanced and enjoyable gaming environment for all players across skill levels. As players speculate about the forthcoming changes' real impact, it remains to be seen how Riot will execute this policy shift and whether the action will align with players' expectations for fairness and competitive integrity. This move could reshape how newcomers and veterans alike approach their League of Legends experience, setting a precedent for other competitive gaming communities.