We know Riot Games is remaking League of Legends in 2027, but the 16-year-old MOBA will also be getting a nostalgic “Classic” release, and now we have a release date for it.
The release date announcement came after weeks of leaks and teases during yesterday’s MSI Finals, the debut League of Legends Classic show match. LoL Classic releases on July 29, and Riot advises players to prepare their accounts in advance by downloading the game first.
There are few concrete details about League of Legends Classic, although it is clear that it aims to return the game to its original era. But differences from this early experience may emerge over time, as Riot has promised patches that will be determined in part by community voting. This may mean that the game will play out a little differently than the first time around.
For example, famous character builds from days gone by like AP Yi and Stunlock Sion are returning, but if the community decides that balance for LoL Classic is better than pure nostalgia, the meta won’t be disrupted for too long. While this could be an interesting experiment in allowing players to go down a different path, it also raises the question of whether “classic” versions of games like World of Warcraft can truly stay true to their original versions over time. To develop or not to develop? That’s the question.
It’s also another sign that the video game industry is increasingly focusing on nostalgic revivals, such as remasters, remakes or classic versions of games, to recapture the attention of players who might have wandered elsewhere. Even Black Ops 7 had to add a “classic Black Ops game mode” that has now become a permanent addition to the game to please the Call of Duty old guard. What’s next? Counter-Strike 1.6 will receive an official relaunch?