Riot Games has announced that the original skins for the 60 champions in League of Legends Classic, a reworked version of the popular MOBA launching July 29, will be provided for free. This decision comes after significant community criticism regarding the initial plan to monetize these "classic" skins in the new mode.
The public beta for League of Legends Classic has been available since July 14, offering players a return to the game's earlier state with only the original 60 champions and pre-2013 mechanics. However, players discovered during the beta that the default skins available were not the original ones from the champions' launch. Instead, players were presented with more modern interpretations of the champions' appearances.
Players found that the actual original, classic skins were obtainable, but required either significant battle pass grinding or the purchase of 500 Riot Points, roughly equivalent to $5 per champion. This meant that unlocking all 56 non-free classic skins could cost upwards of $250, even when purchasing Riot Points in bulk.
This monetization strategy drew sharp criticism on platforms like the r/leagueoflegends subreddit, with players calling the move "greedy" and lamenting that it "shatters any sense of nostalgia" by locking away "so many basic nostalgic elements" behind a paywall. In response to the widespread feedback, Brian ‘FeralPony’ Feeney, Riot Games’ R&D Director, stated that the team would be "taking a look at a number of things to address around some of the biggest areas of feedback."
Following this statement, Riot Games confirmed the change via its official X account on July 17. All 60 original skins for League of Legends Classic have now been made free for players to use upon the mode's launch, appeasing the community's concerns about the preservation of nostalgic elements.