Following a flurry of recent teasers, Riot Games has officially pulled back the curtain on League of Legends Classic. The rollout is happening much sooner than anticipated; players can expect the mode to arrive for free as part of the 26.15 update on July 29.
The announcement took center stage during the MSI 2026 Finals, where attendees were treated to a live exhibition match showcasing the mode in action. According to an FAQ hosted on the official League of Legends Classic website, the mode will be seamlessly integrated into the existing Riot Client. Rather than a rigid recreation of the original 1.0 launch build, Riot describes it as a curated anthology of the game’s most iconic legacy elements.
Executive Producer Paul Bellezza shed light on the project’s origins during an interview at the MSI event, revealing that the concept was born during a company-wide “Thunderdome” hackathon. A dedicated team of developers successfully built a prototype centered around the fan-favorite Season 3 (2012–2013) era.
Here's @RiotPabro explaining how League Classic came to be! pic.twitter.com/dXilDqyX8C
— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) July 12, 2026
Bellezza emphasized that Classic functions as a “greatest hits” collection rather than a strictly historical replica. The mode will launch with the original 40-champion roster supplemented by 20 additional fan-requested favorites. Crucially, it reinstates traditional mechanics, including legacy champion selection, old-school rune pages, and the classic mastery skill trees (Offense, Defense, and Utility).
League of Legends Classic joins a growing movement of live-service titles embracing nostalgia, following in the footsteps of World of Warcraft Classic, Fortnite OG, and Overwatch: Classic. It is a testament to the longevity of these titles that they have cultivated enough history for players to actively yearn for their earlier iterations.
The wait for this trip down memory lane is nearly over, as League of Legends Classic is slated to go live in the client on July 29 at 8 a.m. PDT.
