League of Legends reportedly getting a new client, new visuals, and some gameplay changes in a large 2027 update

Riot Games is preparing a major update for League of Legends in 2027 that reportedly includes an in-game, integrated client, an overhaul of Summoner’s Rift, reworked character models and UI, and some additions to gameplay. The rebuild is being reported under the codename League Next.

The development was described in a video update from League executive producer Paul Bellezza and studio head Andrei van Roon and highlighted in a Bloomberg report published on December 18, 2025. Bellezza reiterated Riot’s stance that the studio is not making a separate “League of Legends 2,” but confirmed a larger bundle of changes aimed for 2027.

Among the items called out are an around-game client that will be fully integrated with the in-game experience rather than a separate application, a full visual refresh of the map described as “entirely new visuals,” and “a bit of new gameplay.” Riot also mentioned adjustments to runes and the systems players use to make free game choices, plus work on the onboarding flow so the game is easier for new players to join.

A look at some of our plans for League after 2026. pic.twitter.com/vqsnBksg1Y

— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) December 18, 2025

Bloomberg framed this as the biggest update in League’s 16-year history, and Riot reportedly plans backend improvements to make future updates easier to ship. Riot executives stopped short of full specifics in the video, saying there is more to share later, but they pointed to several major technical and visual targets.

These changes touch systems that affect both casual players and competitive ones. For context on Riot’s broader plans for the game’s competitive layer, see our piece on the ranked changes planned for 2026, which shows the studio is already adjusting core systems season to season.

Riot has not published a full roadmap or patch list for League Next yet. The studio’s video update and the Bloomberg article are the primary public sources so far, and more details are expected as Riot prepares the multi-year work that will deliver the 2027 changes.

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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.