MSI 2025 Viewing Guide: 86 Co-Streamers, 19 Languages & The Return of Ibai

The road to the Summoner's Cup heats up this summer, and Riot Games is ensuring no fan gets left behind. In a major announcement ahead of the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational, the developer has revealed an expanded co-streaming program that significantly widens the global viewing net. With more streamers, more languages, and the return of a titanic figure in the scene, this year's MSI broadcast is shaping up to be the most inclusive and diverse yet.

**The Co-Streaming Cavalry Arrives**

The numbers tell a compelling story. For MSI 2025, a whopping 86 streamers have been granted official broadcast rights, a substantial jump from the approximately 60 who covered the First Stand event back in March. This aggressive expansion is a core part of Riot's strategy to maintain strong, steady viewership for its premier mid-year tournament. The familiar faces are all returning: French icon Kamel "Kameto" Kebir, analytical maestro Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, and the ever-entertaining Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski will be back on deck. However, the headline grabber is the return of Spanish megastar Ibai "Ibai" Llanos. After a prolonged break that left the Spanish-speaking community yearning for its biggest voice, Ibai is back just in time to cast his own team, Movistar KOI, the LEC champions who have earned a direct ticket to the Main Stage.

**A Broadcast for the World**

Riot's commitment to accessibility goes beyond popular personalities. The tournament will be available in a record 19 different languages, up from 17 previously. This list now includes Romanian, Thai, and Arabic, reflecting the game's growing footprint in new regions like the Middle East, which recently received its own server. While female co-streamers remain underrepresented, the lineup does include notable voices like Athena "Kittwy" Jiang on the English broadcast and Maryblog covering the Spanish feed. This globalized approach isn't just about numbers; it's about community. Co-streaming allows fans to experience the high-stakes action through the lens of creators who share their language, humor, and passion, creating a more personalized and engaging viewing experience that pure official broadcasts can't replicate.

**The Bigger Picture: Viewership Trends and Global Growth**

This co-streaming push comes at a critical time for the esports ecosystem. The announcement notes a "noticeable decline" in viewership during the recent Spring Splits, particularly in Europe where numbers fell over 14% compared to Spring 2024. The contrast is stark with the LCK, which set a new yearly record with nearly two million viewers for the T1 vs. Hanwha Life Esports finals. In the Americas, the LTA North Split 2 saw average viewership drop 34% compared to the LCS Spring 2024. By empowering a vast network of co-streamers, Riot is leveraging the built-in communities of these creators to stabilize and grow viewership. It's a direct response to a fragmented media landscape, ensuring that whether you're a hardcore analyst listening to Caedrel or a casual fan tuning in for Ibai's iconic reactions, there's a place for you at the MSI table.

**Mark Your Calendars**

The action kicks off on June 27th with the Play-In stage, starting with a high-stakes best-of-five between the LEC's second seed, G2 Esports, and LTA South champions FURIA. Bilibili Gaming will make their debut against GAM Esports the following day. With an unprecedented level of broadcast access, the storylines—from regional rivalries to individual player legacies—will be dissected and celebrated in more corners of the world than ever before. Riot's investment in co-streaming is a clear bet on the power of community-driven content to fuel the future of LoL esports. This MSI, the game isn't just on the rift; it's on every screen, in every language, bringing the global LoL family together for one epic showdown.