Riot Confirms League of Legends Classic Mode, Full Reveal at MSI Finals

Riot Games has officially confirmed League of Legends Classic, a throwback mode built around the game’s early-era roots, and scheduled the full reveal for the Mid-Season Invitational Finals around July 11-12, 2026. The confirmation follows datamined legacy assets discovered on the Public Beta Environment and marks the first official acknowledgment of a project players have requested for years. The timing arrives after sustained community pressure for a return to the game’s original feel, yet Riot is still withholding the complete ruleset, maps, and currency systems.

Datamined files from the PBE point to a sizeable legacy roster spanning over 60 original champions alongside the return of the classic 1-30 leveling system, legacy Runes, and Mastery systems. Riot executives have signaled that older runes and Summoner Mastery mechanics are part of the plan, but the studio has not locked in which economy systems, currencies, or map configurations will define the mode. A dedicated progression track with its own battle pass has also surfaced in the data, suggesting Classic will operate as a distinct experience rather than a simple queue swap. That structure raises immediate questions about how progression and unlocks will interact with the modern client.

The real test is whether Classic preserves the original gameplay loop or merely layers vintage cosmetics and old champion models onto modern foundations. Key unresolved questions include the item pool, map layout, and how faithfully the retro ruleset recreates the 2010-era economy. Players are also waiting to see if the mode limits content to the original 40 champions or uses a broader season-era filter, and whether it will revive legacy currencies like Influence Points or mirror today’s economy. Until the MSI Finals reveal, those specifics remain unconfirmed.

Watch the MSI Finals broadcast for the definitive breakdown of Classic’s roster, mechanics, economy, and launch window.