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

Riot is said to be working on a package codenamed League Next that will add an integrated client, a full map refresh, reworked models, rune tweaks, and improvements to the new player experience in 2027.

Margarita Kicevski December 18, 2025

98 2 minutes read

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 integrated in-game client, an overhaul of Summoner’s Rift, reworked character models and UI, and additions to gameplay. The rebuild is being reported under the codename League Next.

League executive producer Paul Bellezza and studio head Andrei van Roon described the work in a Riot video update, which was also covered in a Bloomberg report published on December 18, 2025. Bellezza reiterated that Riot is not making a separate League of Legends 2, but confirmed a larger bundle of changes aimed for 2027.

One of the biggest structural changes would bring the client into the in-game experience instead of keeping it as a separate application. Riot has not described the exact interface yet, but the plan would connect more of the experience around a match to the game itself.

Summoner’s Rift is also due for an entirely new visual presentation, alongside reworked models and UI and at least some new gameplay. Riot has not named the mechanics involved, so the announcement does not yet show how matches might play differently. Changes to Runes and other pre-game choices are planned as well.

Improving the new-player experience is another part of League Next. Riot wants to rework onboarding so it is easier for players to bring friends into League, putting the focus on helping people join the game as well as refreshing its look and systems.

Most of the League team was already working on parts of the project when Riot discussed the plans, although the studio was not ready to show work in progress publicly. Riot had also planned to share more about League Next sometime in 2026 between MSI and Worlds, without setting an exact date. An April 2026 comment from van Roon pointed to systemic changes involving the support role, though he did not provide further details. The planned support changes offer one indication that the project reaches beyond the client and map.

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

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

Bloomberg characterized League Next as the biggest update in the game’s 16-year history. Riot is also reportedly planning backend improvements that would make future updates easier to ship, adding a technical layer to the visual and gameplay work.

Riot is already adjusting the competitive layer through the ranked changes planned for 2026, showing how the studio is changing core systems from season to season.

Riot has not published a full roadmap or patch list for League Next. The current outline leaves the individual client, gameplay, rune, and support changes open while the broader 2027 work continues.

Which part of League Next would you like Riot to explain first, the client, Rift’s redesign, or the systems around Runes and support?

Follow the project as Riot fills in those plans through our social feeds on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.

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.