Riot Games has found itself in hot water again, this time due to changes made to the Team BDS emote ahead of its official release in League of Legends. The redesign, which removed elements deemed “toxic” by the developers, has sparked controversy within the community.
Original Design and Controversy
The initial design of the Team BDS emote featured a playful penguin holding a fishing rod, with the infamous bait ping symbol attached to the hook. The bait ping, a controversial in-game signal, had been removed from the game due to its association with toxic behavior. Despite its playful intent, Riot Games decided to alter the emote, removing the bait ping symbol from the design.
Community Reactions
The new design now shows the penguin with a simple fish at the end of the rod instead of the bait ping symbol. This change has not gone down well with a portion of the League of Legends community, including players and notable personalities who feel that the original design, once approved, should not have been altered post-announcement.
Team BDS also expressed their dissatisfaction with the redesign. The LEC squad responded by recreating the original image, this time adding the same hand gesture that led to the modification of the 100 Thieves emote. The organization even promoted the original emote with a video featuring players in costumes, further highlighting their frustration with Riot’s decision.
Key Points of Contention:
- Original Design: A penguin holding a fishing rod with the bait ping symbol, considered fun by fans but deemed toxic by Riot Games.
- Redesign: The bait ping was replaced with a fish, which led to backlash from the community and the Team BDS organization.
- Community Reaction: Many believe approved designs should not be changed post-announcement, especially when the original intent was not malicious.
- Team BDS’s Response: The LEC team recreated the original design in protest, emphasizing their disagreement with Riot’s decision.
Conclusion
As the controversy unfolds, Riot Games will need to navigate the fine line between maintaining a positive in-game environment and honoring the creative collaborations with professional teams.