The people at Riot have announced a new, nostalgic variant for their MOBA classic called League of Legends Classic. The principle resembles WoW Classic. The launch is already set for this July.
What is League of Legends Classic? The classic version of League of Legends uses Season 3 from 2013 as a starting point to offer you a nostalgic but tailored gaming experience in the LoL cosmos. Specifically, you can expect
- the 40 original champions plus 20 more from 2009 to 2013 (with their original ability sets)
- a faithful reconstruction of the old map “Summoner’s Rift”
- the modes “PvP Queue with Draft Pick”, “Cooperative Play” and “Custom Games”
- the comeback of classic items as well as a selection of runes and masteries
- targeted improvements for graphics (lighting, textures, shadows), champion models, and sound
- the community voting system “The Council”, through which you should have an influence on future development decisions
- seasonal Classic Passes with free and paid progression paths as well as the summoner’s journey from Salt to Legend
Here are some official screenshots from LoL Classic:
When is League Classic coming? The release is already planned for July 29, 2026. Then, with patch 26.15, the start of the third season of the year will commence.
According to the developers, League Classic is expected to play significantly slower than the modern version, with champions having clearly defined strengths and weaknesses. Executive Producer Paul Bellezza promises for the Classic version in the official press release:
League Classic is a personal matter for us. You have been asking for it for years, and honestly, many of us at Riot have missed that feeling from the early days of League. There is real nostalgia behind it.
However, we do not want a one-to-one recreation of the old times. We want League Classic to satisfy that longing while also offering something new. At its core, it’s about honoring the roots of League. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or are returning after years of absence – we want you to feel at home here.
Here is the trailer for the second season of League of Legends in 2026:
WoW Classic as the great role model?!
What does League Classic remind us of? Much of this announcement strongly reminds us of WoW Classic. For example, the developers taking a certain patch version from the past as a foundation, but not releasing it one-to-one, instead making meaningful adjustments.
The goal of the developers also sounds similar: returning players and veterans should have their longing for the old gaming experience satisfied and feel at home. That both communities have long wished for their respective Classic versions is the cherry on the “This feels familiar” cake.
For WoW, the Classic version in 2019 was something like the spark to stop the negative trend of the MMORPG and to head down a new successful path. Today, WoW has more different variants than ever and is approaching an exciting BlizzCon 2026.
Is Riot Games planning something similar in this regard? In 7 years, we may look back at League of Legends Classic and have to nod in acknowledgment of what the MOBA has become. Do you think this thought experiment is possible? And are you excited about the new Classic version of LoL? Let us know in the comments! Our LoL expert Niko already has an opinion on this: LoL Classic is a really good idea, but not because it will be fun for the players
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