T1 Pop is the newest service for conversations between T1 players and their fans. However, it was not well received by the public.
T1 has announced a new service that allows fans to interact with the organization's League of Legends pro players. However, the reactions have not been as positive as they had hoped.
What is T1 Pop?
T1 Pop is a chatting service that lets fans talk directly with the T1 League of Legends players: Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon, Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok.
To have direct contact with the pro players, fans have to buy a subscription that's either the normal T1 membership or a standard subscription. The values go from $4.25 (one player) to $17.25 (five players).
This contact between fans and celebrities is a well-known practice in South Korea, especially with K-pop idols, groups, and actors.
When is T1 Pop available?
T1 Pop is available exclusively as a mobile app via the b.stage app. It's available starting Jan. 8 at 12 p.m. KST. This is the same as 5 a.m. PT.
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Hate train and fan reactions
The last months have been marked by a hate train against T1 and its players, especially Gumayusi and Faker. The organization hasn't done anything to change or solve the issue, added a user on X. Additionally, many fans have pointed out the DDoS attacks targeting the team's streams and live events.
Not only has the mental health and well-being of the players been affected, but their ability to connect with fans through streaming and generate revenue for themselves and the organization has also been impacted due to partnerships and obligations. It's important to understand that gaming is not only work for these players, but it's also their escape from reality. It's supposed to be a fun time, not a disruptive and stressful one.
Under T1's X post, fans have been criticizing the company's choice to open a chatting app when the main problem remains unresolved. They are calling for more focus on the players’ well-being.
Anticipating criticism
The T1 Pop service anticipated the possible bad reactions coming from the fans. They already answered some questions about possible hurtful messages coming through the app. In their Q&A, they explained that players' protection is their priority and legal action will be taken against malicious or defamatory messages. They added that every message is monitored consistently to prevent problems.
Mental health
It's easy to see how the consistent pressure and busy schedule can affect people's mental health. Pro players are not excluded from that. We saw directly how they were affected when Faker had a concerning outburst before being restrained by team members. Many T1 fans argued that T1 Pop is another way to profit from players' fame without letting them rest and have time for themselves.
T1 answered by saying it's operated "based on the voluntary participation of the players." After extensive conversations with the players, it was decided they would use the app at their discretion.
That's all for now. Stick around for more League of Legends news and updates on esports.gg.
