Why "If you don't like it, quit" Works

"If you don't like the game, just quit"

Yeah, ok, we see this argument often. A lot of people fire back that they still like they game, they just want to see it improve. Etc etc etc. The thing is, that doesn't work with League or even other F2P games. Here's some quick reasoning why:

• Retention > Momentary buyers

In F2P games, you want the long game. You want the ten thousand people who spend $15 a month rather than the thousand who spend $100 a month and then never come back. Why do you think games like Clash of Clans and Candy Crush are so successful? (Besides manipulative business practices, anyways). They play the long game. They get you coming back. Staying and playing league, even if you don't spend money, still plays into the long game and Riot's willing to lose some money in the short term so long as you're still invested.

• Not buying content is only for specific content.

"Well then I won't spend money on RP" -also- doesn't work. You're not telling Riot you're upset with their balance, their esports, whatever bone you might have to pick with them. You're telling them that the 1820 Illaoi skin that turns all of her tentacles into inflateable arm wavers isn't what you want. Which, in turn, leads to Riot not making more of those skins because they don't sell. Then you decide they improved the game, cave, and buy a 750 "Jhin but he's flipped horizontally" skin. Which tells Riot those skins sell.

• Player Exodus works in other games.

Remember Warlords of Draenor? For those who aren't aware, WoW had been on a steady decline for a while. Blizzard decided to break the emergency glass and add a bunch of features players missed. And it worked...at launch. Boasting 8 million subs, Blizzard might have finally come back...and then that number dropped. A lot. It got so bad Blizzard stopped reporting any numbers about players. Of course, this mass exodus prompted Blizzard to set their nose to the grindstone and create Legion. Which has had massive success and supposedly is boosting playercounts to Cataclysm/Wrath numbers.

If you earnestly, honestly, truthfully don't like the direction of the game or lack faith in Riot? Quit. Do it. It's the clearest indication. "But I like-" Nobody is stopping you from consuming other things. It's not a mass content ban on Riot. You can still read the lore, check the PBE, watch replays, etc. But in leaving, you're telling Riot that an aspect of the game has become so bad you've actively stopped playing. Which will get them to notice. Me personally, I still enjoy myself. I still have fun. And for those of you who do: It's -ok- to still enjoy League even if everyone is telling you how shitty and awful and terrible and how good Season 2's meat tasted in your facehole comparative to this season.

But for those who don't: Quit. You send a message far stronger than any sort of RP boycott or angry forum post.