League of Legends Classic, a mode designed to emulate the game's early days, will cease to be a permanent addition in January 2027, Riot Games announced. The mode, which launched in July, is concluding its current run due to a lack of sustained player engagement.
Riot stated in an announcement that while many players enjoyed the mode, the majority have since returned to other aspects of League of Legends. The developer plans to reintroduce Classic, but likely in the form of limited-time event modes rather than a persistent offering. Riot intends to share further insights gleaned from this run, including what elements were successful and where the mode may have been held back by a strict adherence to the past.
Refunds will be issued for Classic-specific content that will no longer be usable. The Act II Classic Battle Pass will launch with patch 26.21 and feature only a free track. Following this patch, the Classic store will be limited to champions, runes, and rune pages. Riot confirmed that new champions, such as Irelia, Karma, Quinn, Aatrox, Caitlyn, Mordekaiser, Yorick, Hecarim, and Lucian, will continue to be added through patch 26.23, with champions like Volibear, Urgot, and Udyr planned based on player polls.
Classic modes in games often face challenges in maintaining player interest long-term, especially when a modern, actively developed version also exists. The decision to sunset the permanent Classic mode appears to stem from the observation that it does not possess the sustained draw necessary to justify its continued existence alongside the main League of Legends experience.