Splyce reveals rebrand to MAD Lions

Canadian ownership group OverActive Media announced new plans today for the team formerly known as Splyce. The parent company has revealed that the team will officially rebrand to MAD Lions ahead of the 2020 season and will no longer exist in Riot Games’ LEC.

After a successful 2019 in which Splyce defied expectations by qualifying for Worlds 2019 through the LEC Regional Gauntlet, despite a loss in the quarterfinals, it appears as though OverActive Media will look to capitalize off of the success and popularity and embrace the company’s global approach. The new-look MAD Lions will also include a brand new look for the team including a move to premier European League of Legends competition in 2020.

Announced at NiceOne Barcelona’s Gaming and Digital Experiences Conference, President, and CEO of OverActive Media Chris Overholt said the new-look Lions will prove to be a “substantial step forward in growing OverActive Media globally” and hopes Splyce fans will continue supporting the new during an “exciting new era.” As the organization also looks to focus on the brand’s Hispanic culture, Co-founder & President of MAD Lions and Vice President of Strategy at OverActive Media Jorge Schnura says the culture is ready to bring a “unique flavor to League of Legends” and the global esports community.

The announcement comes following a 2019 offseason which saw a good portion of Splyce’s roster embark on new ventures as Kasper “Kobbe” Kobberup, Tore "Tore" Hoel Eilertse, and Andrei "Xerxe" Dragomir all joined new teams heading into the new season. MAD Lions will look to build a new roster around mid-laner Marek “Humanoid” Brázda including top-laner Andrei “Orome” Popa, jungler Zhiqiang “Shadow” Zhao, AD carry Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság, and support Norman “Gistick” Kaiser, four rookies from European regional leagues.

As it’s clear the team is going through a transitional phase, the adjustment period may be tough for fans of the team to watch, but it’s clear that OverActive has a broader vision for the organization and it will be intriguing to see how it plays out in 2020.