Esports is set to be shoved into the spotlight once again, as a new mockumentary series about League of Legends will be coming to TV. Entitled PLAYERS, this parody will see American Vandal creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault reunite as they dip their toes into a brand new project.

Yacenda and Perrault will serve as executive producers on PLAYERS, but with gaming studio Riot Games also getting in on the act, it will be fascinating to see whether there are any punches pulled. Of course, it will be intriguing to view League of Legends through a comic lens.

League of Legends has exploded into the public consciousness over the past few years, and it has become the largest Esport on the planet. But how does this translate to the casual viewer, who may be merely happy to watch from the comfort of their sofa. What is in store for them?

So, let’s now take a closer look at PLAYERS, and what we can expect.

What do we know so far?

At this point, we have been left in the dark about when PLAYERS will be released. However, when it eventually does, it will be shown on Paramount+. As mentioned, Riot Studios will be heavily involved. But what is PLAYERS about?

Well, PLAYERS chronicles the trials and tribulations of a fictional League of Legends side as they seek to claim their first world championship after perennially been viewed as failures. In this mockumentary, a 17-year-old prodigy and a 27-year-old veteran must put aside their differences and egos to clinch the coveted title.

PLAYERS will have a rags to riches feel about it, but Yacenda and Perrault have been rather brave to tackle a subject that is unfamiliar to them.

PLAYERS impact on the industry

PLAYERS will hopefully give League of Legends even more exposure once it is released. Nevertheless, there has been increased awareness about League of Legends, which has stemmed from regular coverage on Twitch. In short, digital video consumption soared during the first lockdown.

With more professional teams entering the arena, League of Legends is continuing to grow at a rate of knots. Among the most noticeable trends, is the way professional footballers have endorsed Esports. High profile sportsmen, such as Paul Pogba, have leveraged the potential of Esports, so people can bet on the latest Dota 2 or CS:Go competitions. The demographic also suggests that men as young as 16 are likely to get involved with Esports.

Clearly, Esports is on an upward trajectory, and LoL is just one of a handful of Esports to bet on. The impact of it can be seen in the entire industry: product and console updates from Xbox and Playstation are a big thing for enthusiasts, for instance. Marketing campaigns are getting more innovative and eSports competitions get more professional over time. It also reflects on eSports betting in Australia, which has become more popular over recent years, and if PLAYERS is well received, this will catapult LoL and other recognisable Esports titles into the stratosphere.

Getting the conversation going

When it comes to League of Legends, PLAYERS will no doubt get the conversation going. PLAYERS is one of the first mockumentaries of its type, and Yacenda and Perrault will no doubt have sprinkled some hubris and authenticity on the series for good measure. Arguably, it will create a level of excitement about an Esports-based TV series that has not been seen previously.