Although expected based on current regulations, the fact that the latest League of Legends champion won't be available at Worlds 2021 has been a source of controversy among the community.
Riot Games released Akshan too late for him to be relevant in both the LEC and LCS Playoffs. This means, in practical terms, that he is immediately discluded from the champion roster for this year's showpiece.
Riot wondering whether to remove the rule next year
This is not the first time that Riot has had to deal with this situation. Last year, fans wanted to see Yone in action, but to no avail.
However, it could be the last time this happens. In the same official statement, Riot assured fans that the regulations would be reviewed.
However, this doesn't mean that Akshan will suddenly be active for Worlds., especially considering he's been quite a challenge in terms of balance.
He hit the live servers with a win rate that made him one of the worst launches in history, and it remains to be seen where he'll settle after successive emergency balance changes.
The decision to restrict the use of champions with little competitive trajectory is a response to the problems that these types of situations have brought in the past. Reworks such as the infamous Juggernaut or Akali patches have been extraordinarily troublesome.
We'll see in 2022 just how this turns out.
After years of denying the possibility, Riot Games has decided to sign a deal with FTX, making it "the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange of the LCS."
