The current landscape of the videogame universe is marked by a palpable divide, with daily discussions on literally anything creating a sense of discord among players. Yet, amidst this chaos, one sentiment resonates universally: a shared disdain for cheaters. Regardless of one’s gaming background, the consensus is clear—cheating is unwelcome. In this context, League of Legends’ Director of Product, Drew Levin, has emerged as a formidable figure, reminiscent of a Poppy-like ban hammer, diligently enforcing rules and establishing himself as a notable presence in the community.
Confronting Cheating in League of Legends
Recently, Levin has turned his attention to a notorious booster known as ‘Little Peter.’ In a post made on April 22 via X (formerly Twitter), Little Peter openly solicited Challenger players for boosting services in North America, claiming potential earnings of up to “31 euros” for elevating players through the ranks of the popular MOBA. The post further specified a preference for ex-pro players or monochampions, suggesting that one could effortlessly earn between 10k to 20k per month by engaging in this practice.
Levin wasted no time in addressing the issue, warning, “I’m going to ban everyone who does this, fair warning.” Little Peter, undeterred, retorted in Portuguese, “I wanna see you find me.” Levin quickly countered, asking, “Would you like me to post your main [account] here or what?” This exchange prompted a somewhat contrite response from Little Peter, who sheepishly replied in English, “sorry man, don’t shoot me.” Levin’s playful yet firm response included a handshake emoji, and he later shared the conversation with the caption, “open for a fun short story.”
While it remains uncertain whether this interaction will lead Little Peter to reconsider their choices, it undoubtedly places their account—and any associated ones—firmly within Riot’s sights.
Boosting has long plagued multiplayer games, particularly at higher tiers, and this year has already posed challenges for apex-level players. Riot has faced various matchmaking issues, prompting a hard reset of the ranked ladder as Season 2 commenced. The company has acknowledged that this will result in some MMR volatility, making the presence of boosters even more detrimental to the League of Legends ranked ecosystem.
Moreover, it is crucial to note that paid boosting directly contravenes Riot’s terms of service, which can lead to account bans. As confirmed by the developer last year, a ban in one game could trigger an account-wide ban that affects other titles, including Riftbound, Riot’s physical trading card game. In summary, engaging in boosting is ill-advised; otherwise, Levin will be on the lookout, ready to take action against violators.
