Riot Games will shut down League of Legends Classic at the close of Season 3, which is expected in early January 2027. The throwback mode, introduced in July, let players relive the game as it existed in past years, but interest faded quickly after launch. In a blog post, the development team said many players "have gone back to other parts of League."
In the meantime, Riot plans to introduce windowed queues for Classic in regions where low player numbers have led to long matchmaking wait times. The studio will also keep adding champions to the Classic pool in the remaining patches planned for 2026.
Riot is not abandoning the project entirely. The company said it aims to bring Classic back in the future, "likely as an event mode with adjustments and additions," based on feedback from this first run. The mode had been heavily promoted, including a live show match with ten retired pro players at this summer's Mid-Season Invitational.
The approach is not unique. Blizzard Entertainment has found success with World of Warcraft Classic, which also appeals to both new and veteran players by recreating earlier versions of a constantly evolving game. Riot, however, does not appear to have struck the same balance that kept its audience engaged over the long term.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing