Katarzyna Petru
Riot Games reacted swiftly to today's leak regarding the future of League of Legends. The studio officially confirmed that it is working on the biggest package of changes in the history of its flagship title. We are talking about a comprehensive overhaul that aims to prepare LoL for the next decade.
League Next – the largest project in LoL history
According to information revealed by Bloomberg, Riot is developing a project internally known as League Next. A team responsible for the future of the game, which is played by over 100 million players each month, is set to work on the initiative. The debut of the changes is planned for 2027, and the scale of the project is unprecedented in the history of League of Legends.
Complete overhaul of the visuals and technical foundations
According to reports, the creators plan a total refresh of the visual design. The changes are set to encompass characters, the user interface, and the maps themselves, including Summoner’s Rift. The aim is not only to modernise the game but also to make it more accessible for new players, which has remained one of League of Legends' biggest issues for years.
Simultaneously, the technical foundations are being upgraded to accelerate the development of the game and facilitate the implementation of further updates. Bloomberg also mentions organisational changes within Riot Games; however, the studio officially declined to comment on this matter.
Riot breaks its silence after the leak
Riot did not wait for further developments in the speculation. On the same day, they published an official video directed at the community. The developers admitted that they had originally planned to disclose this information only at the beginning of January, along with the start of the new season, however, the leak accelerated their decision.
The most important thing is this – this is not League of Legends 2. Riot clearly emphasises that we are still talking about the same game, but deeply rebuilt and modernised. In practice, this means a “new League of Legends” that maintains its identity but technologically and systemically enters a completely new era.
New client and refreshed Summoner’s Rift
Among the confirmed changes is a completely new client, fully integrated with the gameplay. Riot aims to finally connect the experience outside of matches with what happens on Summoner’s Rift. The map itself will undergo a comprehensive visual refresh, accompanied by changes in gameplay, designed in parallel with the new graphic design.
The developers also announce modifications to runes and pre-match systems, with one of the key pillars of the entire project being a significantly improved experience for new players. Riot does not hide the fact that the entry barrier to League of Legends is currently one of the biggest challenges.
League of Legends for the Next Decade
The studio emphasises that all these actions are part of a broader strategy, focused on what is most important to players. The past year was intended to lay the foundation for a change in the direction of the game's development, and the upcoming stage aims not only to build on the initiatives that have started but also to lay the groundwork for a new era of League of Legends. We are expected to learn more specifics in 2026. At that time, Riot will also reveal when in 2027 the implementation of this historic update is planned.
