League of Legends Classic players clash against old-school skin cosmetics, as the faithfulness of the new game mode is called into question
League of Legends Classic, a recreation of the original MOBA experience, is launching on July 29th with 60 champions and a faithful recreation of the older Summoner’s Rift map. The game mode aims to recapture the early seasons of League of Legends, featuring removed abilities and items from that era. However, players have raised concerns about the use of modern champion skins rather than classic skins, questioning the authenticity and faithfulness of the recreation.
Riot Games has confirmed that League Classic will feature content from the game’s early period through Season 4, meaning Jinx (released October 2013) is the latest champion that could appear. The publisher has ruled out Yasuo, who was released after Season 4. While 60 champions will be available at launch, Riot has promised to add more characters in future updates, with approximately 55 additional champions from the 2009-2013 period potentially available.
The development of League Classic comes after years of player nostalgia and failed fan-made projects like Chronoshift, which Riot previously shut down. According to executive producer Paul Bellezza, the community’s desire to revisit the early era of League of Legends never diminished, ultimately motivating Riot to create an official version rather than allow unofficial recreations to persist.