Riot justified its new $500 Ahri skin on League of Legends (LOL) after players were upset about how expensive the celebratory skin.
Previously, LOL released a statement addressing the expensive price tag of skins, citing that it will be used to cover the costs of esports and to support pro players.
Riot Addresses Expensive Ahri Skin Controversy
According to Riot, most of their revenue stems from a small single-digit percentage of players. The company also explained that the majority of LOL players are enjoying the game without spending money due to its free-play nature.
"What we really think about, on the morality side, is that there are players who are willing to spend $200 a month on their hobbies," said Pu Liu, game director for Riot.
The company emphasized that the expensive and rare skins are targeted toward gamers who are willing to spend that much. However, several fans complained and called it an "insult" and exploitation of the fans' love for Faker.
League of Legends Gain Profit From Skins
While the Ahri skin costs $500, the majority of skins and bundles in the game are not as expensive. The Champion Bundle is around $35 which is equivalent to 3,410 in in-game currency. Meanwhile, the Digital Collector's Pack is at $20 or 2,520 in-game.
Riot also clarified that skins are purely cosmetic and have no bearing on the competitive nature of the game. It is rare for a skin to boost a small percentage of the gameplay, if they can be used to improve, they are immediately banned from pro-play.
Despite the complaints from gamers, Riot has no plan to back down the price for the Ahri skin. Aside from the $500 skin, fans of Faker can still commemorate his achievements through a celebration skin that costs $40.
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