The confirmation of RNG out of the LPL officially marks the end of one of the most dominant dynasties in League of Legends history. The League of Legends Pro League released its final list of teams for the 2026 season without Royal Never Give Up and FunPlus Phoenix.
The decision goes far beyond a roster change. It reflects the collapse of a model that defined Chinese League of Legends for nearly a decade. Once operating with 17 franchises, the LPL will enter 2026 with only 14 teams following a series of exits driven by financial instability and structural reform.
Royal Never Give Up, a three-time Mid-Season Invitational champion, leaves the league without an official farewell, closing a golden chapter in Chinese esports.
Financial collapse sealed RNG’s fate
Unlike other organizations that exited through negotiated buyouts, RNG’s departure stems from severe financial and legal distress. In 2025, Shanghai courts ordered the organization and its founders to settle outstanding debts accumulated over several years.
Chinese media reports indicate liabilities reaching hundreds of millions of yuan, including unpaid salaries and contractual disputes. The organization’s inability to meet basic operational requirements made its continued participation impossible.
RNG out of the LPL is not a competitive decision, but a consequence of insolvency. The organization failed to comply with franchising standards, accelerating its removal from the league.
Player exodus confirms the end of an era
Following the announcement, RNG’s players quickly found new teams for the 2026 season, signaling the definitive end of the organization’s competitive presence.
Confirmed moves include:
- Wei, the jungler and international champion, joining Invictus Gaming as part of its rebuilding effort.
- Tangyuan signing with LGD Gaming and competing in the lower tier of the new league structure.
The roster dispersal underscores the magnitude of the collapse.
FunPlus Phoenix also exits
The contraction of the LPL is not limited to RNG. FunPlus Phoenix, the 2019 World Champion, will also miss the 2026 season.
Unlike RNG, FPX exited through a formal slot buyback negotiated with the league. While structured, the result further reduces the presence of historically dominant brands in China’s top competition.
League restructures to survive
With only 14 teams remaining, the LPL introduced a three-tier group system for 2026:
- Ascend (top tier)
- Perseverance (mid tier)
- Nirvana (lower tier)
The model aims to stabilize finances, control costs and restore competitive balance. RNG out of the LPL accelerates this reset, mirroring a broader correction across the global esports industry.
A legacy that ends in silence
For over a decade, Royal Never Give Up symbolized excellence in Chinese League of Legends. The organization produced icons, won international titles and cultivated one of the largest fanbases in esports.
That the story ends quietly, without ceremony or tribute, highlights how abruptly the era closed. For the LPL, 2026 represents a leaner, more cautious future, built without some of its most legendary names.
