Riot Games to Shut Down League of Legends Classic in 2027

Riot Games will shut down its League of Legends Classic game mode in January 2027, ending its run just six months after its launch.

"We’ve seen a lot of players have fun revisiting the olden days with Classic," a Riot spokesperson wrote in an update. "At this point though, most have gone back to other parts of League."

The current season will be the last for the mode, which stripped away most champions and kits introduced since 2013, reverted to an older version of the Summoner's Rift map, and promised to roll out "new" old Champions at a faster clip than in the olden days.

Riot said it will "put Classic back in the box for now, with the goal of bringing it back, likely as an event mode with adjustments and additions."

Refunds will be issued for Classic content rendered obsolete by the closure.

The mode still has at least seven more champions to roll out before it ends, including Mordekaiser, Yorick, Hecarim and Lucian in the forthcoming 26.21 update, and Vilibear, Urgot and Udyr in future ones.

"This game mode was a true labor of love from so many Rioters, and seeing you all dive back in to reclaim the nostalgia, reconnect with old friends, and relive your glory days made it a truly special moment for everyone," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added, "We will keep exploring different ways to play League and as always, we appreciate all of your feedback. Every post on social media asking for Classic, every vote cast in the Council, and every minute spent leashing for your jungler again helped us bring this to life, so thank you very much."

League of Legends esports veteran Alex Chu, also known as Xpecial, offered thoughts on the mode's slow uptake in August. "Classic was never going to be a huge success at launch, because everyone has a different version of classic," he said.

"I love this version. I recognize every champion and every item, and I know the ward system like the back of my hand. But most players started after me, and for them this isn't their classic, it's just an old game. The launch was always going to be a nostalgia bomb that fades. That part was priced in."

Chu then speculated on a future for Classic that never eventuated. "The interesting part is what happens now that the reins are loosened," he added. "We could end up with a version of League that players vote for things that would never fly with a mass audience."

Riot said it will share more in the future about what it learned from the mode's run. "That includes where we think we got Classic right, where we could have gone more classic, and where sticking too closely to the past may have held the experience back."

The closure comes as Riot continues to support the main game, with the League of Legends World Championship 2026 prize pool recently set at $5 million.