Riot Games is taking League of Legends back to its early years with League Classic, a new mode planned to launch with the next patch. The announcement came in the developer’s July 14 update, which Riot summarized in an official development post and a video update.
League Classic will recreate the original Summoner’s Rift with a starting roster of 60 champions. It will also bring back old-school items, runes, masteries, and other mechanics from League’s early years. Riot will add more champions over time, but the mode will not include the full current roster.
Players will unlock Runes and Masteries through Classic matches. Riot said that process will move much faster than it did in the original system, and every player will have default pages available from the beginning.
Old-school systems with current-day improvements
Classic is not aiming to recreate every rough edge of the original game. Riot is adding updated matchmaking, server infrastructure, performance improvements, modern pings, spell buffering, and optional WASD controls.
The mode will receive regular balance updates, but its balance approach will focus on preserving the gameplay identity that separates Classic from the current version of League. Riot is also introducing The Council, a community voting system that will help guide future changes to the mode.
ARAM: Mayhem gets a Classic-inspired queue
League Classic will launch alongside ARAM: Mayhem Classic-ish, a limited-time mode with its own queue. It will feature a Classic-inspired map, old-school items, and themed Augments.
The playable roster will be limited to the same 60 champions available in League Classic. Those champions will use their modern versions in ARAM: Mayhem Classic-ish, creating a mix of retro presentation and current champion kits.
More League announcements are planned
Riot said applications for the League Partner Program will reopen in September 2026, with more information expected when applications go live.
The next Hall of Legends inductee will be revealed on August 17, 2026. The related in-game event will follow shortly afterward. Riot also plans to share more details about Season 3 Act 2 before that act begins, while Worlds will include a preview of plans for 2027 and beyond.
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League of Legends
Developed by Riot Games
League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.
- Genre: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, MOBA
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Modes: Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2009-10-27
- Publisher: Riot Games, Tencent Holdings, GOA Games Services Ltd.
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Age Rating:
CLASS_IND 12 / ESRB T / GRAC 12+ / ACB M / USK 12 / PEGI 12
- IGDB Rating: 75.0/100
