Riot Games has announced a major overhaul of its age verification and parental control systems on Brazil to comply with the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA Digital), which officially comes into effect on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 and prohibits offering randomised monetisation systems like loot boxes to minors.
Starting this week, the publisher will require all Brazilian players to verify their age using government-issued documents or biometrics, while access for minors will be restricted across several major titles. The move is a direct response to Law No. 15,211/2025, a landmark piece of legislation designed to heighten safety standards and data protection for underage users in the digital environment.
The rollout will occur in two phases: players aged 18 and over must verify their identity starting Monday, 16 March, while changes for minors take effect on Wednesday, 18 March. Due to the requirements of the new law, Riot is temporarily raising the age rating for League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Wild Rift, 2XKO, and Legends of Runeterra to 18+.
Consequently, accounts belonging to players under 18 for these titles will be “paused” and blocked from access until the publisher can realign the games with their original ratings—a process expected to last until early 2027. For VALORANT, players aged 12 to 17 will still be able to play, provided they secure explicit parental consent via a new dedicated portal.
This shift has immediate and potentially devastating implications for the country’s esports scene, as it directly stifles the development of the next generation of League of Legends talent. The Esports Radar contacted several organisations and professionals within the local circuit; many met the news with shock and are currently evaluating their legal and operational options.
The human cost of the policy was highlighted by Arthur Medina, a 14-year-old talent from FURIA’s trainee programme, who shared his frustration on X: “This is it, guys. I’ve dreamt of this for years. I managed to join an org, I train and dedicate myself every day, I reached Challenger and learned to love this community that always welcomed me, along with my teammates. Unfortunately, I still don’t know how things will be from now on. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who stood by me and cheered for me.”
The ECA Digital represents a structural shift in how digital platforms operate in Brazil. Unlike previous years where “self-declaration” was the standard, the new law mandates “effective and reliable” verification mechanisms. Platforms found in violation face heavy penalties, including fines of up to R$ 50 million or 10% of their revenue.
The law also targets specific monetization mechanics, such as a prohibition on loot boxes in games likely to be accessed by minors. Riot’s decision to pause access for younger players is seen as a protective measure to avoid these severe administrative sanctions while the company integrates the required Kids Web Services (KWS) verification tools.
Many industry insiders and fans have criticised Riot’s “pause” strategy, noting that Law 15,211/2025 did not appear overnight. The legislation underwent a six-month evaluation period—a window many deem sufficient for the company to have adjusted its monetisation systems and avoided a total blackout for younger players.
Uncertainty also surrounds other major titles such as EA FC 26 and Counter-Strike 2. History suggests they may follow approaches used in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, where loot-box purchases are restricted or removed while the core game remains available. However, without official announcements, the domestic community continues to await clarification as the legal deadline approaches.
Contacted by The Esports Radar, Riot Games provided the following information. While mentioning the specific case of Los Grandes ad-carry Wallyson “Duduhh” Silva—who turns 18 in April this year—the publisher did not directly address the broader talent development issue:
“At this time, all players under 18 cannot play any of our games that will be rated 18+. We have informed teams to work with us on a case-by-case basis as we will continue to explore ways to support them in ways that are compliant under the law. This is a temporary approach as we aim to move our games back to their original ratings in early 2027.
We only have one pro player in Brazil who is under the age of 18 competing in an official tournament of our games that will be re-rated to 18+. His personal account will be blocked from playing League of Legends until he has come of age next month.
In the meantime, he will be able to practice with his team using specific Riot-owned accounts, which are compliant under the Digital ECA law.“
This regulatory friction coincides with a flagship moment for the Brazilian scene, as Riot Games hosts the First Stand 2026 international tournament in São Paulo (16–22 March).
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with Riot Games’ response to The Esports Radar and grammatical corrections.
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