T1 launches official light stick, fans respond with criticism

T1, the five-time League of Legends (LoL) champion team, has introduced a new item to their 2025 official merchandise line: a light stick. This bold move makes T1 the first LoL team—and possibly the first esports organization—to release such an item. However, despite the team’s massive and loyal fanbase, the reaction they received is not what they expected.

T1 Light Stick is inspired by the iconic idol light sticks, a popular merchandise among the K-Pop fandom. The device can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing the user to customize the light’s color to suit their preferences.

Generally, a light stick is a must-have item among diehard K-Pop fans, as it symbolizes their favorite idol’s identity and is often used during concerts and fan events to create a sense of unity. However,
for esports fans, the concept feels out of place.

Unlike K-pop concerts, esports events don’t typically have the same performance-driven atmosphere where light sticks would be widely used. Instead, we usually would see more esports fans wearing teams' uniforms. This cultural disconnect may explain why the idea has been met with skepticism.

For those who are interested in buying the T1 light stick, you can check the sites below to make your purchase:

Online Purchase

Offline Purchase

Alongside the light stick, T1 has also launched their 2025 merchandise collection ahead of the 2025 LCK Cup, featuring new designs for their uniform jackets, jerseys, and pants. Unsurprisingly, the jersey, which has always been a favorite among fans for years, sold out almost immediately, as did select sizes and variants of other items in the lineup.

For fans still hoping to grab these highly sought-after pieces, it’s worth keeping an eye on T1’s offline stores, as restocks might be announced in the future.

The light stick’s announcement on Jan. 22 sparked a wave of criticism on social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction over the $70 price tag, highlighting how it’s significantly more expensive than K-pop idol light sticks in general. For instance, light sticks from popular idol groups like BTS are priced at approximately USD$59, while BLACKPINK’s cost around USD$32.

In addition to the pricing backlash, fans have voiced frustration over T1’s priorities. Many argue that instead of introducing a niche product like a light stick, T1 should focus on restocking their 2025 jerseys, which sold out almost immediately after their release. These jerseys, considered a core part of the team’s identity, hold far more significance to fans than a light stick.

The criticism didn’t stop there. Fans have also criticized the design of the 2025 uniform jacket, which is dominated by bright red color and lacking ornaments, calling it a downgrade compared to previous years. For an organization as iconic as T1, uniforms represent the team’s legacy—items fans want to wear to proudly show their support.

Stay tuned on esports.gg for T1 updates.