Although the
LEC Versus returned last weekend, early viewership figures appear to be relatively disappointing. After the first 15 matches of the competition, this year’s peak stands at
470,701 viewers, representing
a decline of approximately 20.5% compared to the opening week of the 2025 Winter Split, which recorded a peak of
592,185 viewers according to
Esports Charts' numbers.
These initial figures were expected to indicate whether the new format and the arrival of
Los Ratones and
Karmine Corp Blue would help reignite fan interest. However, audience engagement currently appears to be down compared to last season.
A strategic misstep?
The most-watched match of the opening week took place on day three between Los Ratones and Karmine Corp. In this matchup between the teams led by streamers Kamel "Kameto" Kebir and Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, the reigning Winter Split champions secured a hard-fought victory following several technical pauses. The match attracted just over 470,000 viewers, combining the official broadcast and all co-streams. This peak remains well below that of the same period last season, when a match between Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI reached significantly higher numbers.
More concerning still, this year’s encounter between Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI peaked at "only" 377,545 viewers, marking a drop of approximately 36% compared to the same fixture last year. While Riot Games had hoped that the inclusion of Los Ratones and the introduction of a new format would make the competition more appealing and entertaining, these early indicators suggest the strategy has yet to deliver the intended results.
Paradoxically, the team currently sitting last in the LEC occupies the top three spots in the viewership rankings, with its match against Karmine Corp Blue just behind its game against the main roster. The opening match of the LEC between the former NLC champions and Fnatic ranks third. Last winter, peak viewership was reached during the grand final, with 801,369 viewers for Karmine Corp against G2 Esports.
