From Rogue to Natus Vincere: A New Era Begins in LEC

Our Spring finalists are gearing up for a trip to Canada for the Mid-Season Invitational but upon their return, they will find EMEA has changed.

We’re delighted to be welcoming a new face to the LEC as Natus Vincere (NAVI) have acquired Rogue’s slot in the league and will compete in the 2025 LEC Summer Split.

Most esports fans will already be familiar with the name NAVI as the team has competed across hundreds of esports tournaments since they were founded in 2009. They’re even well acquainted with our Riot Games Arena in Berlin, having competed in the VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA the last few years.

In their 16-year history, the Ukrainian organization have lived up to their name, which comes from the Latin for “born to win”, by establishing themselves as one of the most decorated esports teams in the world with over 100 titles collected across their prestigious past.

NAVI have broken records, united millions of global fans, and built multiple champion-winning rosters over the years, now they will bring that same level of passion, ambition, and hunger for victory to the pinnacle of LoL competition in EMEA, the LEC.

We also want to thank Rogue for all their efforts these last six years. Since joining at the start of the LEC era in 2019, they showed incredible determination, qualifying for three consecutive World Championships and finally securing an LEC title before their third international trip back in Summer 2022.

As part of the transition, Rogue’s current players, coaches, and analysts were fully transferred to NAVI. NAVI are currently weighing up all their options, utilising their wealth of knowledge and experience in esports to build as strong a team as they can for the upcoming Summer Split. 

We are extremely grateful for the legacy Rogue built and the memories they shared with us in the LEC. And we’re equally as excited to see what kind of stories NAVI will bring to our league as they build a new legacy of their own.

We can’t wait to witness the start of their journey with all of you. Keep your eyes peeled on lolesports.com as the LEC Summer Split dates are dropping soon!

FAQs:

Why is this change happening now, and not after the season like usual? 

While most team changes are finalised after the season, this transition came together earlier due to several unique factors. 

NAVI is a well-established esports organisation, and we’re confident they have the infrastructure and experience needed to be ready for Summer Split competition. 

Additionally, the timing aligned for all parties involved and allowed NAVI the sufficient preparation time for competition resuming. From a league rules perspective, although uncommon, these changes are possible. 

What will happen to Rogue’s players? 

As part of the transition, Rogue’s current players, coaches, and analysts were fully transferred to NAVI. NAVI are currently weighing up all their options, utilising their wealth of knowledge and experience in esports to build as strong a team as they can for the upcoming Summer Split. 

Did LEC receive a share of the sale? 

Rogue is entitled to all proceeds from the sale of its slot in LEC. 

What is the process behind these kinds of changes? What role does Riot/LEC play in the process? 

When a current LEC team decides to exit the league, they may receive or seek interest from potential buyers. Once a serious offer is identified, Riot reviews the potential purchasing organization to ensure alignment with competitive and operational standards. During this process, the selling and buying teams will work towards finalizing their agreement, pending LEC approval. The LEC conducts a thorough review of the prospective team, evaluating factors such as ownership structure, brand identity, community engagement, business plans, and competitive history and planning. Should the team complete the review, the transaction can proceed. While the final choice of buyer rests with the selling team, the sale overall is subject to LEC approval.

Why NAVI, and not another team? 

While multiple factors influence a sale, the final decision belongs to the selling team, as long as the purchasing team meets all LEC requirements and completes the process outlined above. 

NAVI’s strong esports presence, professionalism, and strategic alignment with the league’s values made them a fitting choice.