League of Legends Classic Launches Ahead of Schedule

Riot Games has officially announced League of Legends Classic, following some intriguing teasers from a couple of weeks ago. The release is set to drop sooner than many anticipated, arriving for free on July 29 as part of Patch 26.15.

This exciting news was shared during the MSI 2026 Finals for LoL Esports, where an exhibition match showcased the new mode. An FAQ on the League of Legends Classic website confirms that it will be seamlessly integrated into the existing Riot Client that players already use for League of Legends. Rather than a complete reboot to the original 1.0 version, it will serve as a blend of classic features.

Executive Producer Paul Bellezza provided further insights about League of Legends Classic during a brief chat at the MSI Finals. He mentioned that the concept originated during a “Thunderdome” hackathon at Riot Games, where a team of developers created a prototype inspired by Season 3 (2012-2013) of the game.

Bellezza emphasized that this mode will feature a “greatest hits” compilation from around Season 3, rather than a strict recreation. It will launch with the original 40 champions, plus an additional 20 “classic” champions. League of Legends Classic will also revive the traditional champion and rune selection process, along with the offense, defense, and utility skill trees from the mastery system.

This release is part of a growing trend of nostalgic modes and re-releases of earlier versions of long-standing live-service games. World of Warcraft Classic famously initiated this movement, and we’ve also seen titles like Fortnite OG, EverQuest Legends, and Overwatch: Classic emerge in recent years. It’s intriguing to see how these live-service games have evolved to the point where older versions spark nostalgia and excitement among players.

Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to find out if League of Legends Classic meets the high expectations, as it will be available in the game client at 8 a.m. PDT on July 29.