{
  "id": 14567587,
  "title": "3 months after launch, Riot announces League of Legends Classic will be killed in January: 'most have gone back to other parts of League'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/3-months-after-launch-riot-announces-league-of-legends-classic-will",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T23:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/3-months-after-launch-riot-announces-league-of-legends-classic-will-be-killed-in-january-most-have-gone-back-to-other-parts-of-league/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three months after its debut, Riot announced that League of Legends Classic would be discontinued in January 2027, just six months after its launch. Although many players enjoyed revisiting the vintage-era matchmaker, most have since returned to other aspects of League. In a statement, Riot highlighted that despite the nostalgia, Classic did not sustain a strong enough following. The current season will be the final one, and Classic will be set aside for now, with potential return as an event mode that includes adjustments and additions. The decision to shut down the mode was influenced by feedback, such as the fact that old MMOs like World of Warcraft, Runescape, and Guild Wars offer a more relaxed and non-competitive environment compared to the highly competitive nature of League of Legends. Overall, the closure aims to help Riot explore alternative ways to engage with the game, while expressing gratitude for the community's support and feedback throughout the Classic's run.",
  "summary": "New Champions will continue to roll out for now.",
  "key_points": [
    "League of Legends Classic discontinued in January 2027",
    "Most players returned to other parts of League",
    "Closure influenced by feedback on competitive nature"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The decision to sunset the nostalgic mode signals that Riot prioritizes long-term player retention in competitive environments over maintaining niche, low-population experiences that fail to sustain a dedicated community.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}