Riot Games Plans Major Overhaul of League of Legends
Riot Games is preparing what could become the most significant update in the history of League of Legends, a move that may fundamentally reshape the long-running online game.
According to a Bloomberg report citing current and former Riot employees, the developer is working on a large-scale reimagining of its flagship title, internally referred to as League Next. The overhaul is expected to arrive around 2027 and will focus on modernising the game while making it easier for new players to pick up.
While Riot has stopped short of announcing a full sequel, the company has confirmed that substantial changes are on the way. In a recent developer update, Riot said it is planning major improvements rather than replacing the game outright.
Sources familiar with the plans told Bloomberg that the update will involve sweeping changes to League of Legends’ underlying technology, visuals and presentation. Characters, maps and the user interface are all expected to be redesigned as part of the effort to broaden the game’s appeal.
One of the key targets of the update is accessibility. Although League of Legends attracted more than 180 million monthly active players at its peak several years ago, Riot staff acknowledged that engagement has declined since then. The company has already begun experimenting with changes aimed at lowering the barrier to entry, including the introduction of optional WASD movement controls.
Riot has also confirmed plans to launch a new integrated launcher, replacing the current separate client. The game’s main battleground, Summoner’s Rift, is set to receive visual upgrades and new gameplay elements, while the onboarding experience for first-time players will be reworked to make the game more welcoming.
In addition to surface-level changes, employees told Bloomberg that Riot is making behind-the-scenes technical upgrades designed to speed up patch development and updates. Internal team restructures have reportedly taken place as part of the preparations for the overhaul.
First released in 2009, League of Legends has remained one of the most played PC games in the world and a cornerstone of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. Its success helped define modern esports and inspired numerous rivals, though only a few, such as Valve’s Dota 2, have maintained long-term popularity.
Beyond League of Legends, Riot Games has expanded into other genres in recent years, launching the tactical shooter Valorant and the card game Legends of Runeterra. The studio is also developing a fighting game, 2XKO, which is currently in early access on PC and is expected to arrive on consoles in 2026.
Riot has said it will share more details about the future of League of Legends in the coming months, as anticipation builds around what could be the game’s biggest transformation yet.
