League of Legends Classic to be taken offline in January

Riot Games has officially announced that League of Legends Classic, the retro-focused recreation of the MOBA released just this past July, will be taken offline at the end of the current season. As reported by Eurogamer, the mode is scheduled to end its current run in January 2027.

The end of an experiment

According to an official blog post from the League team, the decision stems from shifting player engagement. While the developer acknowledged that fans enjoyed revisiting the “olden days,” they noted that most of the playerbase has since migrated back to other parts of the main game. Rather than serving as a permanent addition as some initially hoped, the team plans to “put Classic back in the box for now” with the intention of re-releasing it as an event-based mode featuring adjustments and new additions in the future.

Riot has confirmed that they are currently reviewing what worked and what didn’t during this run, specifically looking at how sticking too closely to the past may have held the experience back. Despite the closure of the mode, the team confirmed that previously planned champions for Classic—including Volibear, Urgot, and Udyr—will still be released as intended.

Microtransactions and player feedback

The mode’s tenure was not without controversy. Many players took issue with the implementation of cosmetic microtransactions, which required users to earn retro looks through a specific battle pass or purchase them with real-world currency. For those who did invest, Riot has promised that all cosmetic microtransactions purchased for LoL Classic will be refunded in Riot Points.

Why it matters

For fans who enjoyed the nostalgia of the older meta, the upcoming removal means their access to the mode is strictly limited to the remainder of Season 3. While the closure may be disappointing, the developer’s commitment to returning the mode as an event-based experience suggests that the feedback provided during this window is being actively used to refine the formula for a future, more polished iteration.

If you spent money on skins within the Classic mode, keep an eye on your account for those Riot Point refunds as the January deadline approaches. Players are encouraged to keep sharing feedback on their experiences, as the studio has stated this input is vital to how they plan to iterate on the mode for its eventual return.