As League of Legends approaches its 17th anniversary, developer Riot Games is finally answering the community's call for a classic version. After years of fan-led projects like Chronoshift being shut down, Riot is launching League Classic on July 29, 2026. In an interview, executive producer Paul Bellezza revealed how the project came together.
"League Classic is our take on the greatest hits of League's eras," Bellezza explained. The idea emerged from a Thunderdome hackathon last summer, where a team resurrected a 2013-era version of the game. The prototype proved both technically feasible and fun, leading to a dedicated team.
Why season 3? Bellezza noted that League launched globally at different times, but season 3 represents a common reference point for most regions. It also marked when the game's meta began to solidify, with innovations like jungle pathing from pro players like Alex Ich. While the framework is season 3, Classic will include fan-favorite items from later years, such as Zz'Rot Portal and Heart of Gold.
A separate dev team, including veteran designers like CertainlyT (Thresh) and FeralPony (Hecarim), will handle balance patches distinct from the main game. "We think it would be an incredible experience," Bellezza said. The team assembled around September 2025, and the result is a nostalgic trip back to League's roots.