Remember internet cafes? You enter a room full of gaming PCs where you see groups of friends laughing and screaming at each other. Before you know it, hours have passed. Good old days? Riot Games Philippines is gearing up to make sure it’s bringing internet cafes back, better than ever. The “Riot Unlocked” is a brand-new PC cafe program aimed at revitalizing the country’s once-thriving computer shop culture. It was launched on July 15 with TNC Cyber Cafe, a leading cyber cafe chain in the Philippines.
With Riot Unlocked, Riot Games Philippines aims to make its game titles more accessible to Filipino gamers, particularly those lacking access to a PC or stable internet connection at home. The program is designed to bring the competitive gaming scene for local grassroots communities. The three-month pilot run will kick off with League of Legends.
“We’re thrilled to debut Riot Unlocked, especially at a time when we’re witnessing a heightened competitive gaming scene in the country and Pinoy gamers are showing a stronger sense of community,” said Joel Guzman, Country Manager of Riot Games Philippines. “In addition to making our games more accessible to Pinoy gamers, this program also pays homage to what’s deemed to be the root of Pinoy gaming culture: the computer shops,” he added.
Riot Unlocked promises a premium League of Legends gaming experience at TNC Cyber Cafes with modern, comfortable gaming spaces and high-speed internet. Gamers who participate in the program will enjoy exclusive perks such as unlocked champions, XP boosts, LAN tournaments, and access to thousands of skins.
Riot Games Philippines also ensures exclusive privileges for partner computer shops, including support for local community tournaments and official merchandise for players.
The pilot run of Riot Unlocked will be available in 13 TNC Cyber Cafe branches across the country. In Metro Manila, it will be accessible in TNC Cyber Cafes located in Lerma, Loyola, P Noval, Morayta, and Welcome Rotonda. Other participating branches include TNC Cyber Cafes in Dasmariñas Cavite, Lipa, Salitran, Digos, Bacolod USLS, Tagbilaran, Cebu HQ, and Butuan.
“It’s our way of thanking our loyal players and encouraging more of them to enjoy gaming at PC cafes, where the community is unbeatable.” said Kimi Salazar, MOBA Brand Manager at Riot Games Philippines. “We’re optimistic that partnering with PC cafes will pave the way for a more solid community experience for Pinoy gamers and will be pivotal in our mission to bring League of Legends Philippines back to its glory days.”
Riot Unlocked is turning nostalgia into a premium modern gaming experience. Despite how competitive Riot Games titles are, they’re still focusing on what made them so popular in the first place; building up a community that enjoys playing together.