Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Should Riot Games remove franchising from League of Legends? In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Monte, Thorin, Richard Lewis, and Guest Horseman/esports attorney Harris Peskin break down why franchising was created, what the teams actually demanded from Riot, how Overwatch League accelerated the timeline, and why dissolving franchising today would be far more complicated—and far more damaging—than many fans realize. We also cover the recent 2XKO news and the flawed arguments in The Wooloo article calling for franchising to be removed.
Topics Covered:
⦁ The latest updates on Riot’s fighting game: 2XKO
⦁ Why franchising was implemented in League of Legends
⦁ The original team demands in the leaked 2016 Demand Letter
⦁ How Rick Fox’s actions weakened team leverage
⦁ The benefits franchising provided to players
⦁ How the franchising era professionalized esports and removed bad actors
⦁ The flaws in Wooloo's anti-franchising argument
⦁ Why dissolving franchising today would trigger lawsuits and destabilize the entire ecosystem
If you enjoy deep-dive industry analysis, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment with your take on franchising in LoL esports!
NOTE: The opening line of this episode was re-recorded due to an error. The rest of the video is left intact.
2016 Demand Letter to Riot Games: scribd.com/document/330873638/Lcs-Na-and-Eu-Riot-Letter-11-4-16-Elta-Version-Confidential-Final-for-Signature
Wooloo article on franchising: sheepesports.com/de/all/articles/franchising-was-riot-games-biggest-mistake/en
Visit prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/HORSEMEN and use code HORSEMEN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!
Secure your online data TODAY by visiting ExpressVPN.com/horsemen
Quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless! Plans start at $15/month at MintMobile.com/FOURHORSEMEN
Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you go for gold. Go to buyraycon.com/horsemenOPEN to get 15% off.
The Four Horsemen is the premier esports industry show that reacts to important news and critical conversations across all major titles. Esports veterans Duncan "Thorin" Shields, Richard Lewis, and Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles use their decades of experience to shed light and debate on key esports topics as they emerge. Each episode they are joined by an expert guest to help further provide insider information on the topic at hand.
Episode 58 was filmed on February 9th, 2026.
Watch The Four Horsemen on Spotify with video:
open.spotify.com/show/2NBATCQs2dq50PJRjND7j9
Listen to The Four Horsemen on these audio platforms!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-four-horsemen/id1555303495
Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ucw0inmo
Pandora: pandora.com/podcast/the-four-horsemen/PC:1001030353
iHeart: iheart.com/podcast/104246987
Come join the Insight on Esports Discord for in-depth discussion across esports: discord.gg/zeWYq4JhEU
0:00 Intro
04:09 2XKO news
30:48 Why was franchising put in place?
57:27 The Demand Letter to Riot
1:30:37 Why the players benefit from franchising
1:43:29 The result of the Demand Letter
1:53:41 The franchising era
2:09:32 The Wooloo article
2:34:23 Dissolving franchising
3:01:17 Closing thoughts
#LeagueOfLegends #Esports #TheFourHorsemen #RiotGames #LEC #LCS #2XKO
Should Riot Games remove franchising from League of Legends? In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Monte, Thorin, Richard Lewis, and Guest Horseman/esports attorney Harris Peskin break down why franchising was created, what the teams actually demanded from Riot, how Overwatch League accelerated the timeline, and why dissolving franchising today would be far more complicated—and far more damaging—than many fans realize. We also cover the recent 2XKO news and the flawed arguments in The Wooloo article calling for franchising to be removed.
Topics Covered:
⦁ The latest updates on Riot’s fighting game: 2XKO
⦁ Why franchising was implemented in League of Legends
⦁ The original team demands in the leaked 2016 Demand Letter
⦁ How Rick Fox’s actions weakened team leverage
⦁ The benefits franchising provided to players
⦁ How the franchising era professionalized esports and removed bad actors
⦁ The flaws in Wooloo's anti-franchising argument
⦁ Why dissolving franchising today would trigger lawsuits and destabilize the entire ecosystem
If you enjoy deep-dive industry analysis, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment with your take on franchising in LoL esports!
NOTE: The opening line of this episode was re-recorded due to an error. The rest of the video is left intact.
2016 Demand Letter to Riot Games: scribd.com/document/330873638/Lcs-Na-and-Eu-Riot-Letter-11-4-16-Elta-Version-Confidential-Final-for-Signature
Wooloo article on franchising: sheepesports.com/de/all/articles/franchising-was-riot-games-biggest-mistake/en
Visit prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/HORSEMEN and use code HORSEMEN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!
Secure your online data TODAY by visiting ExpressVPN.com/horsemen
Quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless! Plans start at $15/month at MintMobile.com/FOURHORSEMEN
Raycon's Essential Open Earbuds are here to help you go for gold. Go to buyraycon.com/horsemenOPEN to get 15% off.
The Four Horsemen is the premier esports industry show that reacts to important news and critical conversations across all major titles. Esports veterans Duncan "Thorin" Shields, Richard Lewis, and Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles use their decades of experience to shed light and debate on key esports topics as they emerge. Each episode they are joined by an expert guest to help further provide insider information on the topic at hand.
Episode 58 was filmed on February 9th, 2026.
Watch The Four Horsemen on Spotify with video:
open.spotify.com/show/2NBATCQs2dq50PJRjND7j9
Listen to The Four Horsemen on these audio platforms!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-four-horsemen/id1555303495
Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ucw0inmo
Pandora: pandora.com/podcast/the-four-horsemen/PC:1001030353
iHeart: iheart.com/podcast/104246987
Come join the Insight on Esports Discord for in-depth discussion across esports: discord.gg/zeWYq4JhEU
0:00 Intro
04:09 2XKO news
30:48 Why was franchising put in place?
57:27 The Demand Letter to Riot
1:30:37 Why the players benefit from franchising
1:43:29 The result of the Demand Letter
1:53:41 The franchising era
2:09:32 The Wooloo article
2:34:23 Dissolving franchising
3:01:17 Closing thoughts
#LeagueOfLegends #Esports #TheFourHorsemen #RiotGames #LEC #LCS #2XKO
