Riot Games' Daniel Ringland Addresses Persistent Tech Woes During VCT EMEA Stage 1

In a candid post on X, Riot Games’ Head of VCT EMEA, Daniel Ringland, acknowledged the growing discontent surrounding the VCT 2025 - EMEA Stage 1 broadcast and competitive integrity. He apologized to players, fans, talent, and partners, recognizing that the tournament’s execution had fallen below expectations in both player conditions and viewer experience.

Ringland’s message aimed to provide clarity on the root of the issues: persistent gameplay instability at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. These technical setbacks have forced Riot to move several matches to online servers, only to encounter a new set of complications—namely ping inconsistencies and more frequent tech pauses.

Behind the Scenes: Complex Problems, Limited Time

According to Ringland, the challenge lies in diagnosing and resolving the issues mid-season. The Riot Games Arena is in near-constant use during Stage 1, leaving little opportunity to take systems offline for in-depth troubleshooting. “It’s a really complex challenge,” he wrote, noting that multiple global teams are involved, with factors ranging from network infrastructure to game and client access.

The switch to online play was a stopgap measure to prevent excessive delays but ultimately compounded the problem, especially in a region where latency variance can impact competitive fairness.

Derke Calls for Long-Overdue Change

Not all were satisfied with the explanation. Team Vitality’s star player Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev voiced his frustration publicly, criticizing Riot for what he described as years of unaddressed technical concerns.

“It’s really tiring to hear these apologies or texts that are giving hope while nothing’s happening for years”

Derke also pointed out the disparity between VCT EMEA and other regions in terms of equipment quality and player treatment.

“It’s really disgusting to see other regions having better conditions too. Right now you guys are only moving backwards.”

Ringland responded directly to Derke’s remarks, acknowledging their validity and thanking him for his honesty. “I’d be tired/frustrated (putting it mildly) in your shoes too,” he admitted. He also shared that Riot is planning “larger overhauls and upgrades,” although these are slated for later in the year.

To improve communication and feedback between players and organizers, Ringland announced the formation of a Player Council, which is currently in development. “Let’s keep an open dialogue via the Player Council,” he added, signaling a move toward more structured engagement with the player base.

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Featured Image Source: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games