Riot Games to Sunset League of Legends Classic in January 2027

Riot Confirms Shutdown Date

Riot Games will sunset League of Legends Classic at the close of Season 3 in early January 2027, the studio has announced. The throwback mode, which launched in July and gave players a way to re-experience League of Legends as it was in past years, failed to hold player interest after its debut.

In a blog post, the development team said interest waned quickly after Classic launched, noting that many players "have gone back to other parts of League."

Interim Plans Before the Shutdown

Before the mode goes away, Riot said it will introduce windowed queues for League Classic in regions where a lack of players has created long wait times for matches. The studio also plans to keep adding more champions to the Classic pool in the remaining patches scheduled for 2026.

Classic Could Return as an Event Mode

Rather than discard all the work that went into recreating bygone eras of League of Legends, Riot said it aims to bring Classic back in the future, "likely as an event mode with adjustments and additions" based on feedback from this inaugural run.

Riot had promoted League Classic heavily since announcing the throwback mode, including a live show match with ten retired professional players at this summer's Mid-Season Invitational tournament. The effort mirrors a broader trend of studios appealing to long-time players with versions that turn back the clock on evolving live games. Blizzard Entertainment has seen success with its World of Warcraft Classic option, but Riot has not yet struck the balance that would connect with its audience for long-term success.

Sources: Engadget