League of Legends
News, coverage and analysis tracking League of Legends across the outlets.
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League of Legends Classic This Month
Riot Games is releasing patch 26.15 for League of Legends on July 29th, which will mark the beginning of Season 3. This update will also introduce the previously promised League of Legends Classic mode.
'There's Real Nostalgia There' — Riot Has Unveiled League of Legends Classic, but Don't Expect a One-to-One Recreation of the Old Times
Riot Games has unveiled League of Legends Classic, a new version of its MOBA designed to evoke nostalgia for the game's early days. While it aims to capture the feel of the game from over 15 years ago, it will not be a one-to-one recreation of the original experience.
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS CLASSIC RELEASES IN PATCH 26.15
Riot Games is releasing League of Legends Classic in Patch 26.15 on July 29, 2026, bringing back the feel of the game from its Season 3 era. This new experience will feature the original Summoner's Rift map, a roster of 60 classic champions with pre-rework kits, old-school Runes and Masteries, and fan-favorite items. Executive Producer Paul Bellezza stated that League Classic aims to honor the game's roots while offering a fresh experience for both long-time and returning players.
Riftbound Vendetta card reveal - Helm of Suppression stops ramps dead, and ruins late-game spellcasting
Riot Games has revealed a new card for the upcoming League of Legends set, Vendetta, called Helm of Suppression. This Epic Gear card, when Empowered, increases the Energy cost of enemy spells by one, and an additional Rune when Empowered. This mechanic is designed to disrupt aggressive and spell-heavy decks in the collectible card game.
The 'Classic' nostalgia trend continues as League of Legends Classic gets a release date and the promise of player-voted patches
Riot Games announced that League of Legends Classic will launch on July 29th, offering a nostalgic throwback to the game's early era. The company also promised that future patches will be partially shaped by community votes, allowing for player-driven evolution of the classic experience. This move is part of a broader industry trend of leveraging nostalgia through remasters and classic versions of games.
League of Legends' 'classic' mode has a release date, and it isn't just an old version of the game—players will vote on new patches, Old School RuneScape-style
Riot Games has announced that League of Legends Classic will launch on July 29, featuring a blend of Season 3 mechanics, modernized art, and community-voted updates similar to Old School RuneScape. The mode will bring back old champion builds, runes, masteries, and summoner spells, with plans to add more classic champions over time.
League of Legends Classic isn't the launch experience, it's a "greatest hits" of the early years
Riot Games has detailed League of Legends Classic, describing it as a "greatest hits" collection of the game's early seasons, rather than a strict recreation of the 2009 launch. It will feature original champions, items, and gameplay design, launching on July 29 with content roughly around Season Three. Players will be able to influence its future development.
League Classic might sound fun, but as a 15-year League of Legends veteran, I'm here to tell you: You want this…
A veteran League of Legends player expresses skepticism about the upcoming 'League of Legends Classic,' arguing that while nostalgia is a draw, the modern game is superior in design, balance, and player experience. The author highlights numerous past design flaws and contrasts them with current improvements, suggesting that a return to the past would not recapture the magic players remember.
Worlds of Play art exhibition to run alongside Gamescom 2026
The Worlds of Play: The Game Art Exhibition will run alongside Gamescom 2026 from August 27-29 in Cologne, Germany. This free event, organized by Tencent, will showcase artworks and immersive installations from 40 games across five themed zones, including titles like DayZ, Control, Assassin's Creed, and League of Legends. Attendees can expect to see original concept art, character statues, and potentially meet game creators.
Exclusive Riftbound card reveals bring League of Legends' shadows to life
Riot Games' trading card game Riftbound is set to release its fourth set, Vendetta, on July 31, introducing new mechanics like Flow, Burn, Empower, and a new unit type called Unit-Gear. Exclusive card reveals include the Champion Unit Zed, From the Shadows, and the Shadow Clone unit token, which can become powerful when attacking.
Masters at work: how Riot grew Valorant into its second global esport
Riot Games has successfully grown Valorant into a major global esport, second only to League of Legends, by focusing on community engagement and diversifying revenue streams beyond sponsorships. Bill Pan, Head of Product Strategy for Valorant Esports, highlights how in-game digital goods have been crucial for funding the esports ecosystem, allowing Riot to thrive despite broader industry challenges like an 'esports winter'. The company continuously adapts its content and distribution strategies to maintain relevance with evolving player bases and changing entertainment consumption habits.
EXPLORE THE ART AND CREATIVITY BEHIND 40 GAME TITLES THROUGH “WORLDS OF PLAY” GLOBAL ART EXHIBITION IN COLOGNE, AUGUST 27 TO 29
Tencent announced "Worlds of Play: The Game Art Exhibition," a global art show featuring 40 game titles from over 20 studios. The exhibition will take place in Cologne, Germany, from August 27 to 29 during gamescom 2026. It will showcase artworks and installations across five themed zones, celebrating the artistry and cultural significance of game creation.
This Riftbound Vendetta Champion Card Introduces A Decade-Old Champion To The TCG
Riftbound: Vendetta, the fourth set for the League of Legends trading card game, will introduce Illaoi, Prophet Of The Great Kraken, a champion card based on a character present in League of Legends lore since 2015. The new card focuses on token generation and synergizes with the set's new 'Empower' mechanic. Riftbound: Vendetta is scheduled for release on July 31.
League of Legend's Riftbound Vendetta Introduces a New Champion and Ability – Exclusive
The upcoming booster set for League of Legends: Riftbound, titled Vendetta, will introduce a new champion named Gangplank. This rare unit features the Empowered keyword and will be available alongside new mechanics and full art variants.
Riot believes League of Legends 'mage bot' strats are "healthy diversity" and "need to be viable"
Riot Games has decided against planned Brand buffs for League of Legends patch 26.14 due to concerns about mage bot lane strategies, but maintains that this approach offers healthy diversity. Lead Gameplay Designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison explained that while frustrating for traditional marksmen, mages in the bot lane provide a necessary strategic option and prevent the game from becoming too formulaic.
Evening Esports and Competitions
Riot Games is reportedly close to achieving self-sustainability for its esports operations, according to a statement from the company. The firm behind League of Legends aims to make its competitive gaming ventures financially viable.
Riftbound: Vendetta Details Revealed; Rival Champion Legends And New Set Mechanics
Riot Games has revealed details for Riftbound: Vendetta, the fourth set for the League of Legends trading card game, set to release on July 31, 2026. The set introduces new mechanics like Unit-Gear and Decrees, alongside three new gameplay mechanics: Flow, Burn, and Empower. It will also feature rivalries between champions such as Shen and Zed, with special Showdown Decks available for two-player experiences.
Xbox setting Compulsion and Double Fine free is the only good thing to come out of Microsoft's layoffs
Microsoft's recent layoffs, affecting thousands of employees, have led to Xbox allowing Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions to become independent. While the mass job losses are devastating, this move is seen as a positive step for fostering innovation in the indie game space, freeing these studios from the constraints of triple-A development.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+ 2, The Planet Crafter, Palworld 1.0, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles throughout July, including the full release of Palworld 1.0, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and Gears of War: Reloaded. The service will also feature updates for games like Wuthering Waves and League of Legends, while several titles are scheduled to leave the library on July 15.
"We can break even and be self-sustaining within Riot" – The firm behind League of Legends is "super close" to making esports sustainable
Riot Games' head of publishing and esports, John Needham, states that the company's esports business is very close to achieving profitability and self-sustainability. He attributes this progress to a shift in business model from sponsorships to digital items and increased revenue sharing with esports teams, alongside efforts to grow viewership and player engagement through various transmedia initiatives.
