League of Legends Classic mode ends in January 2027, may return as limited-time event

Riot Games announced that League of Legends' Classic mode will end its permanent run in January 2027, just months after its July debut, due to waning player interest. The mode, which recreates the MOBA's early days, will remain available through Season 3. Riot plans to potentially revive it later as a limited-time event with adjustments, and is issuing refunds for classic-specific content while releasing new old champions through patch 26.23. Riot cited insufficient long-term demand for a permanent retro version, unlike World of Warcraft's classic offerings. The decision prioritizes the main game, with the company sharing lessons learned from the experiment in future updates.