I am beginning to imagine in League of Legends once more. Whereas I believe that 2024 and 2025 have considerably confused the MOBA’s overarching id, 2026 feels prefer it may very well be a much-needed turning level. With League Subsequent – a colossal new replace that looks like a sequel – lurking on the horizon, and fewer champions releasing per 12 months because of Riot’s makes an attempt to essentially go in and repair the sport, it looks like a step in the proper course. Regardless of main layoffs, nevertheless, the corporate has employed some severe expertise over the previous few months – together with some star-studded additions to its MMO group. The newest addition to the crew, nevertheless, is former LCS star turned streamer William ‘Meteos’ Hartman, who has joined LoL’s Gameplay Evaluation Staff.
As somebody who consistently daydreams concerning the Golden Period of esports, I am far too aware of Meteos. Whereas G2 Esports and Fnatic have at all times been my EMEA duo (briefly dethroned by Los Ratones), Cloud9 have at all times been considered one of my favourite LCS groups. I personal an OG Puma collab hoodie from far too a few years in the past (it is nonetheless one of many warmest hoodies I personal), and I bear in mind the great ol’ days of Meteos, Jeong ‘Influence’ Eon-young, Nicolaj ‘Jensen’ Jensen, Zach ‘Sneaky’ Scuderi, and Andy ‘Smoothie’ Ta. Man, the 2010s actually had been a time.
Meteos transitioned to full-time streaming again in 2023 after transient stints with the likes of 100 Thieves and Flyquest, and has since amassed over 500,000 followers on Twitch. His content material is, as you possible count on, primarily League of Legends, and has leveled up considerably from the video beneath (do not you all love a blast from the previous?).
As of March 2, 2026, nevertheless, Meteos has a barely completely different job. “Immediately was my first day on the Gameplay Evaluation Staff at Riot!” he writes on X. “I will be playtesting and giving suggestions for brand new modifications coming to League. Excited to work with and be taught from all of the gifted designers at Riot.”
In an interview with Constructing Higher Video games, former senior QA supervisor at Riot (now director of QA at Singularity 6), Nathan Tiras, describes the Gameplay Evaluation Staff as “pseudo-design adjoining.” The group successfully playtests completely different champions, with Tiras noting that it “may truly predict champion win charges on launch… based mostly strictly on their play testing expertise of that champion in growth.” Given Meteos’ professional background, then, this feels prefer it makes a variety of sense.
This is not the primary time this has occurred, both. Outstanding LCS caster David ‘Phreak’ Turley joined Riot as a recreation designer on the tail-end of 2022, though his steadiness modifications have persistently acquired a lukewarm response. Based mostly on Tiras’ feedback, nevertheless, Meteos possible will not be as front-facing, so in all probability will not be subjected to the identical backlash as his LCS colleague.
I might argue that hiring ex-pros is a constructive, although: they understand how the sport performs on the highest stage, and totally perceive the inside workings of what makes a champion good or dangerous. If Riot continues to essentially faucet into the neighborhood it has – whether or not that is by hiring or being extra open with its communication and playtesting – I actually do assume it will stand it in higher stead, and hopefully even out a few of League’s ongoing steadiness points forward of no matter comes subsequent.
