Riot Games has announced a new company president, Hoby Darling.

Darling will replace former President and present CEO Dylan Jadeja, who led Riot Games during the controversial sexism scandals and accusations. Now, gamers are unsure if Darling is the right fit to bring about changes in the company regarding marketing and microtransactions.

Hoby Darling has spent most of his career in the sports and tech industries, focused on creativity and performance. This includes senior leadership roles at Logitech, Skullcandy/Astro Gaming, Volcom and Nike, according to a press release from Riot Games. At these companies, Darling spent a lot of time merging genres and bringing in athletes and creators to grow brands globally.

“The first time I walked into Riot, I felt a scrappy, soulful, and courageous energy I knew I needed to be a part of. I’ve worked with a lot of companies, and there’s something special about a place that takes risks, challenges convention, and stays fiercely committed to its mission,” Darling stated.

“Riot has a long history of creating experiences that truly matter to players, and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside passionate Rioters who push each other to do their best work every day.”

When the change in leadership was announced, CEO Jadeja had positive words for Darling, noting that he would bring out the company’s ‘creativity’ and ‘focus.’ However, the League of Legends community has been skeptical since Darling stepped up just a day ago.

On a Reddit forum discussing the change, gamers found it hard to believe that someone who worked at Nike and Skullcandy had the gaming and esports knowledge to lead Riot Games. Others were weary of his strong marketing background, with one Redditor stating: “Dude sounds like a textbook marketer. They’re probably going to keep pushing revenue growth as usual. He sounds like he’s involved in ad integrations. Aka they’re gonna milk the game dry. Probably a less intrusive way but still going to milk it.”

Other gamers looked Darling up and found that he talked about CrossFit a lot, leading to a lot of ‘gym bro’ accusations.

Not a lot of gamers had a positive outlook on Darling being appointed as president of Riot Games, but only time will tell if the decision has any impact on the games and their communities, good or bad.

Tekken 8 Game Director Katsuhiro Harada has blocked top pro player Arslan Ash on X (formerly Twitter), infuriating the FGC.

Earlier on April 21st, Arslan Ash shared a screenshot of Harada’s X bio, which showed that he’d been blocked from seeing Harada’s tweets. Arslan then put a bunch of question marks to express his confusion.

Arslan Ash is no stranger to criticizing Tekken 8, especially after developers made questionable changes in Season 2. Now, the esports community believes that Arslan was blocked by Harada for continuing to voice frustrations with the game.

Harada has lashed out at critics in the past, including fans who voiced disdain for Anna’s new look. Harada accused one fan of ‘spreading toxicity’ in the community and ‘disrespecting’ other Anna fans.

This time, however, the FGC felt that Harada had blocked the wrong person — an Evo champion who is considered one of the best in the scene. The community noted that the game must be ‘cooked’ if developers are blocking the ‘GOAT of the game.’ It wasn’t exactly instilling faith in the game.

Said one fan: “Harada and Murray are straight-up sabotaging their own game at this point. Blocking the best Tekken player, zero communication, and ignoring real issues. Instead of listening, they’re shutting people down. It’s embarrassing hey Namco y’all f—ed up big time.”

Added another: “The face of Tekken being blocked by the head of Tekken. Insane, especially when you realise that Arslan could legit stop playing Tekken and go pro in [City of the Wolves] extremely quickly, especially with [Esports World Cup] round the corner.”

In response to the continued backlash on X, Harada responded to the drama in a tweet. He claimed he never meant to block Arslan Ash, adding that it was an ‘operational error.’ Harada then stated that he spoke to the pro in a DM.

While this could be the case, Arslan Ash and other Tekken 8 players are clearly unhappy with the state of the game and won’t stop speaking out about it.

JD Gaming’s Head Coach Kim ‘cvMax’ Dae-ho is stepping down from his role due to health concerns.

JD Gaming shared the shocking news on X (formerly Twitter), stating that it was a mutual decision between cvMax and the organisation as he heads back home to recover. cvMax’s exact health issue was not mentioned.

“Since joining JDG in December 2024, Coach cvMax has demonstrated unwavering professionalism and commitment to the team,” JD Gaming wrote. “His rigorous approach to training, meticulous management and strategic leadership have significantly strengthened our tactical systems and player development, driving continuous improvement within the squad.”

cvMax’s decision was largely respected by the esports community, who wished him well and felt it was noble to take a step back if it impacted the team’s performance. JDG is sixth place in the LPL Split 2 standings, with four wins and two losses. The team will have to step it up to make it to the finals.

cvMax has been with JD Gaming since 2024 and has grown a large following over his career. His dedication to the game has made him a respected figure in the competitive League of Legends community and many fans are hoping he will return.

JD Gaming hasn’t announced a replacement or stand-in coach just yet. However, it doesn’t seem like there are plans to bring cvMax back.

At the end of the announcement, JDG wrote: “We extend our sincere gratitude to Coach cvMax for his dedication and guidance during his tenure. We also thank our fans for their steadfast support of JDG’s League of Legends division. The entire JDG organization wishes Coach cvMax good health and continued success in his future endeavors.”

cvMax hasn’t made a public statement regarding his ‘future endeavors,’ but that wording has left JDG fans with little hope of a cvMax return. It’s possible this could change when cvMax makes a recovery and returns, or he may be snatched up by another team.

If you’ve ever wondered whether esports could be a well-paid job, let’s see how much Faker makes in 2025. The popular South Korean professional League of Legends player and streamer has been one of the biggest esports names, having taken Riot Games’ MOBA by storm since he joined the fold professionally in 2013. 

We’re going over far more than just Faker’s net worth in 2025. We’re also outlining all of his different revenue streams, charity work, prize pool earnings, real estate developments, and early childhood, so you can get the full picture on “The Unkillable Demon King,” who is also sometimes referred to as the “God” of League of Legends. 

Faker, whose full name is Lee Sang-hyeok (이상혁), is a 28-year-old South Korean League of Legends professional player. Faker has been with T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1) since 2013, when he joined the organization as a mid-laner. In 2020, he signed a new three-year contract with T1, which included becoming a part-owner of the organization.

Faker is generally regarded as the best League of Legends player in the world and has been for over a decade. He’s established himself as “The Unkillable Demon King” for his world-class performance as a mid-laner. 

As of April 2025, he has 17 trophies, including five World Championship wins and 10 League of Legends Champions Korea results. In June 2024, LoL Esports inducted him into the Hall of Legends in Seoul. 

According to Liquipedia, Faker’s earnings in 2025 currently stand at approximately $1,803,082, which is the cumulative of the LoL World Championship prize pots and other top-level events since 2013. 

With that said, Faker’s net worth far exceeds just his League of Legends tournament winnings. It’s believed that Lee Sang-hyeok is currently worth $10 million, as reported by ClutchPoints. 

That makes Faker one of the richest Esports players in the world, with T1 being regarded as one of the best League of Legends teams on the planet. 

Faker’s salary and investments come from diverse revenue streams outside of playing on the world’s stage in League of Legends. While Lee Sang-hyeok has won nearly $2 million playing competitively since 2013, the bulk of his income comes from his Twitch and YouTube earnings, as streaming makes up a substantial portion of his net worth. 

Looking at Faker’s official Twitch channel, the League of Legends champion has 3.9 million followers. Many of them likely donate through the dedicated button on the streaming page, as well as the likes of Super Chats and more. 

The T1 Faker YouTube channel currently has 1.99 million followers. As a result of his immense following and success, brand deals and sponsorships make up a strong portion of Faker’s income. 

Through T1, Faker has prominent brand deals represented by CAA Sports, such as sponsorships with Razer, Nike, and Red Bull, which are among the highest-paying Esports supporters. 

Faker’s net worth in 2025 is also due in part to his prominent role as the Global Ambassador for Stealer’s ‘Steel by Stealer’ eyewear, as well as a lucrative collaboration between Secretlab and VANDYTHEPINK for a custom-designed Titan Evo model. 

A major revenue stream for Faker’s income is his investments in real estate, more specifically the Faker Tower, which is located in his hometown of Seoul in the Gangseo District, near his childhood home. 

While his company operates on the top floor, the remainder of the building is leased to 10 other companies; the exact amounts are undisclosed. The property was believed to cost roughly $8.3 million in 2020, and it reportedly earns a steady profit. 

Additionally, while Faker’s contract salary is believed to be around the $6 million mark, it’s said that Sang-hyeok also owns a stake in T1. It’s said that his ownership is around 6% of the company. The organization is currently valued at $220 million, meaning that Sang-hyeok’s shares are worth approximately $13.2 million and counting. 

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was born in the Gangseo District of Seoul, South Korea, on May 7, 1996. He was raised by his grandparents and his father, Lee Kyung-joon. Faker has described his family as not being very well off financially. 

He began playing League of Legends when it arrived in South Korea back in 2011 (despite the title launching in 2009 in North America and Europe), and quickly became enamored with the release. 

Before playing League of Legends, he was a big fan of fighting games such as Tekken and King of Fighters before getting into PC gaming with MapleStory and Warcraft 3. 

While attending Mapo High School, he started taking LoL more seriously, even asking his father to drop out and pursue esports full-time, which his father fully supported. 

He was shortly scouted by T1 in 2013 and has been a major player in Riot Games’ popular MOBA. 

Despite Faker’s salary and substantial net worth, the League of Legends champion leads a notoriously frugal and humble lifestyle instead of splashing his wealth unnecessarily. This is likely due to his poor upbringing and how his father raised him. 

Despite raking in around $6 million from his contract salary at T1 alone, Sang-hyeok is believed to only spend around $170 a month (or roughly $2,040 a year) on himself, due in part to T1 providing both food and board for him.

Faker has a famously packed 24-hour schedule which allocates his free time, practice, sleeping, eating, and Scrims, with half the time spent between the Scrims and playing on the LoL Solo Queue. 

When not playing League, it’s believed he spends most of his time watching VODs, with equal allocation to watching his own replays, checking regional metas, and using stats sites. 

He aims to sleep only six hours at a time, eliminating time wasted on his phone to improve sleep quality, with the bulk of his waking life spent on League. 

While living so humbly and making smart business investments is what Faker is known for, he’s equally well-regarded for his charitable donations and philanthropy. 

Faker’s net worth of $10 million makes him one of the richest esports stars in the world. However, he’s not the highest-paid in the competitive scene. 

With estimated prize pool earnings of around $1.8 million solely from playing League, he’s in the top five internationally but pales behind the likes of:

However, it’s worth remembering that the competitive scene for League of Legends (and its respective prize pools) can be smaller than that of Honor of Kings, CS2, Fortnite, and Dota 2. 

After all, Faker’s salary and prize winnings are only a small part of what’s made him so rich and successful over the years, as brand deals, real estate, frugal living, and sponsorships will eclipse T1’s winnings. 

Faker’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million, which takes into account his yearly salary from T1, his real estate ventures with Faker Tower, sponsorships with the likes of Razer and Secretlab, and his part ownership in T1. 

Lee Sang-hyeok is one of the richest esports and most famous Esports players in the entire world, transcending more than just League of Legends, which is impressive given the game is now approaching 20 years old. 

It’s unknown how long the South Korean champion will continue to play League, but it’s said he will take an operational role in T1 and continue his landlord duties and charitable efforts in the future. 

For more on Riot Games’ premier MOBA, we recommend checking out Esports Insider’s League of Legends coverage. It covers not just Faker and T1 but also other competitive teams, the gameplay changes, and esports events. 

While Fnatic was unable to lift an international VCT trophy in 2024, last year can still be considered a success, as the team secured both the EMEA Stage 1 and Stage 2 titles. However, going into the 2025 VCT season, Fnatic struggled to get the results they had hoped for — until now.

Fnatic missed out on Masters Bangkok, and with multiple changes in the coaching staff combined with the pressure to rediscover its form, the road ahead seemed anything but easy. Yet, the team managed to turn the tables, defeating every opponent that stood in their way in EMEA Stage 1.

Esports Insider sat down with Fnatic’s IGL, Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett, to discuss this challenging journey, the addition of Kajetan ‘kaajak; Haremski and Austin ‘crashies’ Roberts, their goals for Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup, along with the organisation’s recent partnership with Red Bull.

Ever since making roster changes post-VALORANT Champions, Fnatic had struggled to achieve the team’s desired results. They then faced an early exit at Red Bull Home Ground and failed to qualify for Masters Bangkok after not securing a top-two finish at Kickoff EMEA.

However, the squad looks much more composed in Stage 1, and it seems the players have finally found their footing again.

“Yeah, I think the team has reached a really good point at this current time,” Boaster said. “We’re all bonding really well. We’re practicing really hard, and yeah, it’s just very positive in the camp right now, so I’m very happy. I mean, we still have to make Toronto, that’s the main goal, but we’re looking good right now and we have a good chance to make it.”

Boaster have also been spending a lot of time with Austin ‘crashies’ Roberts, sparking a new bromance. Esports Insider jokingly asked him about the ‘bromantic’ pictures they uploaded recently, and he admitted that he’s really enjoying their time together.

“He lives close to me, which gives us plenty of chances to hang out in spare time. He’s always at the office with me when I’m there on our off days, or we’ll go out to a restaurant or check out Pokémon cards. We’ve got a little group chat asking if anyone wants to do something and he’s always kind of down,” Boaster said.

Fnatic hasn’t lost even a single series so far and has already booked a slot in Stage 1 Playoffs. This turnaround was a result of changes in Boaster’s calling style, with him being more flexible and focusing more on exploring the map.

“It was like a personal experience of learning how to call by leaving inserts and stuff. So, I had to change my style of calling because sometimes I used to think, ‘Ah, if I have a flashy execution, it doesn’t matter how we do it,’” Boaster explained.

“But now I’m trying to think more about manipulating the map and, even more so, improving my on-the-fly calling and not doing everything so set and structured, but focusing on defaulting and mid-rounding. My defense calling is also more proactive now.” 

Kaajak didn’t just make his VCT debut with Fnatic; he also had to fill the void left by Derke. With expectations from fans around the world, feeling the pressure was only natural. Boaster mentioned that the young duelist wasn’t initially comfortable being himself, but now he’s enjoying his time on stage.

“He feels a lot more comfortable, and I think that just shows the whole team’s development throughout this season. I think that’s why we’re looking pretty good right now,” Boaster said.

The team also worked closely with Kaajak to help him play more freely as the roster’s superstar duelist.

“We had to figure out a way to actually make him the superstar duelist. So it was often a lot of dialogue, like, for instance, what sort of peeks do you like to do? Where do you feel comfortable? Where do you feel uncomfortable? And then generally, it’s just about practicing day by day and sending little notes to him when I used to watch the games back,” Boaster shared.

“The team is believing, and we trust each other. We trust Kaajak, and I think he feels that trust too. Now he feels like he’s earned this spot in Fnatic. So yeah, I think we’re cooking up something juicy,” he added.

Apart from the roster changes, Fnatic also went through multiple coaching staff shuffles. After Chris ‘Elmapuddy’ Tebbit was moved to the inactive roster following Kickoff 2025, Milan ‘Milan’ Meij was promoted to Head Coach, with Erik ‘d00mbr0s’ Sandgren stepping in as the Assistant Coach.

However, due to illness, d00mbr0s was later replaced by a new assistant coach, Benjamin ‘Scuttt’ Hutchinson. Suffice to say, there were a lot of coaching changes, which are naturally difficult for a team to go through.

“That whole process was obviously a bit chaotic,” Boaster admitted. “We were also looking for a performance coach at the time. But I don’t think it affected practice too much or anything. We just took it day by day. The atmosphere within the team was very positive because the team itself was in a good state.”

ESI jokingly asked Boaster whether Jacob ‘mini’ Harris, the team’s former coach of three years, ever scolds him backstage for making mistakes, especially since he’s casting in VCT EMEA regularly.

“No, he hasn’t. If he’s at the venue, the little cheeky bugger doesn’t even come and see us! I don’t know why, maybe he’s too good for us now,” Boaster laughed. “Nah, I think it’s just because after he finishes casting, he either heads out or stays in a room somewhere. Maybe he doesn’t want to disturb us. Sometimes I do see him, he gives me a fist bump and says good job.”

Jokes aside, Boaster is glad that his former coach is enjoying a more relaxed year. 

“Sometimes when I hear him on Twitch, I’m just like, ‘What is this guy waffling about?’ But honestly, I’m glad he’s having a chill year. Coaching was a lot of work for him,” Boaster said.

Fnatic recently announced Red Bull as its official energy drink partner. Not only the Red Bull logo appears on Fnatic’s jerseys, but both organizations will also collaborate to deliver exclusive social media content and exciting activations.

Even before the partnership, Fnatic’s VALORANT team participated in Red Bull Home Ground for three consecutive years.

“One of my first introductions to Red Bull in VALORANT was during the Red Bull Home Ground in Japan. I actually did something with League of Legends way back in the day as well. It was some university thing, maybe Campus Clutch? I can’t quite remember. I was actually on the analyst desk for that, doing some League of Legends analysis, not sure why [laughing]. But it was actually a lot of fun,” Boaster smiled.

“Having this brand on my shoulder is cool. The boys use it during games, they drink it while prepping for matches, so it only feels right that we have it on our jerseys too. We’re chugging it down and getting ready to perform at our peak.”

Esports World Cup will kick off in July, featuring VALORANT for the first time, with Fnatic confirmed as one of the participating teams.

If Fnatic qualifies for Masters Toronto, the team will have to compete in three major events back-to-back. While that could lead to fatigue, Boaster’s focus is only towards making it to Masters Toronto and visiting Niagara Falls.

“I have no idea what’s happening with that, to be fair. Obviously, I’ve seen some posts and stuff, but right now, Toronto is the only thing I’m thinking about and trying to make. That’s enough work because, you know, we practice six days a week, and the seventh day is kind of like an off day,” Boaster said.

“But for an IGL, it’s about preparing for the next week, so it can be quite tiring. So yeah, I’m not entirely sure what’s going on there. I don’t really have any details.”

To wrap up the interview, ESI asked Boaster to share his predictions for Stage 1 across the Americas, Pacific, and China.

“I’m gonna go with G2 in Americas, that’s a safe one for the region. Bilibili seems to be doing quite well in China, along with Wolves. But I’ll go with EDG, I still think they have a chance. They recently swapped out Hsieh “S1Mon” Meng-hsun, but I still back them. In Pacific, I have no clue what’s going on there. It’s a fiesta, isn’t it? But, I’ll go for Boom. We’ll ride that wave,” Boaster shared.