Unleashing Controversy: League of Legends Fans Voice Discontent Over the Latest Ultimate Skin

The official debut of the newest Ultimate skin in League of Legends has sparked a backlash among fans due to its pricing. Over the course of the MOBA's extensive fifteen-year history, thousands of skins have been made available for its expansive roster of playable characters. Each game update typically introduces a variety of new skins with unique designs, visual effects, and even new voice lines. However, the latest addition to the game's highest tier of skins is not being well-received.

Ultimate skins have always represented the epitome of League of Legends skins since their introduction in 2012 with Pulsefire Ezreal. These skins, which cost around $25 in real-world currency, offer substantial changes to their respective characters by incorporating evolving character models, entirely new voice lines, and numerous additional features. This top tier of skins is also the most exclusive in League of Legends, with only six Ultimate skins being released thus far. Nevertheless, the game's upcoming seventh Ultimate skin is facing significant criticism from players.

Riot Games Senior VFX Artist Sirhaian recently shared a series of videos showcasing the gameplay animations of the upcoming skin, Soul Fighter Samira. However, players have raised doubts about whether the skin meets the requirements to be classified as an Ultimate-tier skin. One League of Legends fan expressed their disappointment, citing a previous developer post and suggesting that Soul Fighter Samira falls short of the "boundary-breaking standards" set by past Ultimate skins. Additionally, it has been noted that several special features of the skin seem to be recycled from previous Legendary skins.

This controversy is not new for Riot Games when it comes to their Ultimate skins. The release of Gun Goddess Miss Fortune in 2018 also faced backlash, with fans questioning its Ultimate status. Eventually, Riot reduced the price of the skin to address the concerns. Some fans speculate that a similar approach may be taken with Soul Fighter Samira, potentially reducing her price in the in-game store. However, as of now, no official plans have been announced regarding pricing adjustments. Soul Fighter Samira is anticipated to be launched alongside Patch 13.14 on July 19th.

Riot Games has faced significant challenges in the competitive esports scene of League of Legends this year, coinciding with the release of the upcoming Samira skin. The LCS, Riot's professional circuit in North America, faced scrutiny when the LCS Players' Association organized a strike to demand improved compensation. Additionally, the league experienced a major shift as Counter Logic Gaming, a longtime member of the LCS, was acquired by NRG Esports. The controversy surrounding Riot Games' Ultimate skin release further adds to the list of difficulties the gaming powerhouse has encountered this year. League of Legends is currently available for PC.