One of the notable changes that Riot Games wants to implement in the upcoming League of Legends version 10.8 is increasing the penalty for quitting during the ban/pick phase. Currently, if a player commits this act, the penalty is a minimum 5-minute matchmaking ban and a deduction of 3 ranked points for the first offense, with the penalty increasing if it occurs repeatedly within a short time.
A representative from Riot believes this punishment is not sufficiently deterrent and does not contribute to improving the situation of quitting. Discussing the reason for applying the increased penalties, the creator of League of Legends argues that limiting the behavior of quitting during ban/pick will help improve the gaming experience, ensuring that other players are not affected when the match is about to start but is interrupted by someone leaving the game.
Regarding the specific penalties after the update, Riot will implement an increase in ranked point deductions and extend the matchmaking ban duration. For players with an average elo or ranks of Master and above, quitting during ban/pick could result in a point deduction greater than that of a loss, along with being banned from matchmaking for dozens of minutes.
However, contrary to the expectations of the game operation team, this decision has not been welcomed by the gaming community. Many players have voiced their opposition, arguing that quitting is often used when faced with lane disputes, trolling picks, or encountering toxic teammates.
Furthermore, quitting during ban/pick is the best way to “start over,” allowing players to avoid participating in a match that they perceive to be risky while minimizing the impact on other gamers.
A series of individual opinions from the gaming community posted on forums have shown that they are not satisfied with this situation. Even players who frequently encounter canceled matches due to others quitting admit that this is not a serious issue, as they would rather find a new match than enter a game without a comfortable mindset, or knowing that there is someone trying to ruin the game without being able to do anything about it.