In late 2025, talk about League of Legends 2 flared up again. This time, it was tied to reports of a major overhaul and Riot Games’ own messaging that something big is coming after 2026. The language was vague but deliberate, immediately raising questions about the developer’s long-term plans.

This guide breaks down what League Next is and why people are calling it “LoL 2.” It also separates what Riot has confirmed from what’s still a rumor, and explains how those 2027 plans differ from the 2026 gameplay changes.

What Is League of Legends 2?

League of Legends 2 isn’t an official product name from Riot Games. It’s a community shorthand for a remake-level update that will include a smoother client, modern visuals, and cleaner code. That’s why the term keeps coming back whenever Riot hints at big fundamental changes.

Riot’s official stance (as of December 2025) is pretty direct: the studio is not making a LoL sequel. Instead, the plan is to keep evolving the existing game, but with many more upgrades than usual.

What Is League Next?

League Next is widely reported to be an internal codename for Riot’s major effort to modernize League of Legends, targeting a post-2026 release. Basically, it’s closer to a “total overhaul” than a brand-new game, even if it may feel like one when it arrives.

Riot clarified their plans in a YouTube Shorts video, saying:

“We’re making a brand new around-game client that’s fully integrated with the in-game experience rather than being a separate application like today. We’re also revamping Summoner’s Rift with entirely new visuals and a bit of new gameplay. Plus, some changes to runes and how you make some free game choices. And we’re overhauling the new-player experience so that once we’re done, it should be the best time ever to get your friends into League.”

On the official LoL Reddit, the Head of League Studio, Riot Meddler, confirmed that Riot originally planned to reveal the news as part of the January Season Start Dev Update. However, after some important LoL information started leaking, they had to issue an official announcement to provide more context.

League of Legends 2027 Overhaul Details

Besides the YouTube Shorts video, Riot Games developers have also revealed some additional information about what this major overhaul might bring. Here’s a brief list of what you can expect from the LoL 2027 update.

New League of Legends Client

Riot has confirmed that they will create a brand-new LoL client, a change many players have requested for years. Unlike the current UI, the new one won’t run as a separate application and will be a full-screen experience, similar to the VALORANT game client.

Yes, one piece of software that's more integrated/cohesive, rather than separate client and in game experiences

— Andrei van Roon (@RiotMeddler) December 18, 2025

Summoner’s Rift Overhaul

The Summoner’s Rift map will receive its first major update in over a decade, making it arguably the most significant revamp since its last overhaul. The video revealed that the map update will include “entirely new visuals and a bit of new gameplay,” suggesting Riot will likely aim to maintain a similar feel to the original.

Runes & Pre-game Choices

Riot Meddler also hinted that they will make changes to the Rune system in 2027 and how players make some pre-game choices. Since its release, League of Legends has undergone many changes to how Runes work.

In the past, players had Runes and Masteries as separate systems. However, after a major update, the two systems were merged into one. This change made pre-game builds easier to set up, but it also reduced the creativity of older Rune setups, such as stacking full AD/AP to surprise opponents with early-level damage.

Many players hope that this will introduce even more flexibility when it comes to choosing the correct Runes.

Improving New-player Experience

With over 170 champions in League of Legends, starting out as a new player can be overwhelming, which is why Riot confirmed that they’re overhauling the new-player experience. The studio hasn’t shared many specifics yet, but the core idea is clear: onboarding needs to do a better job of teaching fundamentals and easing new players into the game’s systems.

Additional Changes

The announcement also mentioned that there’s a bit more to this update than they’ve shared so far, and you should receive more official information sometime between Mid-Season Invitational and the League of Legends World Championship in 2026.

LoL 2027 Changes vs 2026: What’s Different?

Riot has already announced several gameplay changes for LoL Season 1 in 2026, aimed at reshaping match flow through new systems like Role Quests, new pushing mechanics, and broader tweaks to the game’s overall pace.

However, 2027 is a different kind of update. Riot isn’t making a true LoL 2, but it has signaled a bundled overhaul focused on the game’s foundations.

• LoL 2026 (match-flow update): Role Quests, faster early game, new vision points (Faelights), new pushing mechanic (Crystalline Overgrowth + more tower plates), and the removal of Atakhan and Feats of Strength.
• LoL 2027 (game-wide overhaul): Integrated around-game client, completely new Summoner’s Rift visuals, more substantial new-player experience, broader pre-game systems, and additional changes that will be revealed later.

Why “LoL 2” Feels Like Dota 2 Reborn

The whole LoL 2 situation is reminiscent of what happened with Dota 2 when Valve shipped a sequel-sized upgrade without ever calling it a sequel.

In 2015, Dota 2 Reborn transitioned the game to the Source 2 game engine, introduced a redesigned dashboard, and added custom games. Many players agreed that Valve could’ve simply called it Dota 3.

A similar pattern showed up again with Patch 7.38 (Wandering Waters), which played more like a map overhaul than a standard patch. Valve reworked the river, expanded water areas, and added current-based waterways that change rotations and fights.

FAQs

When will League of Legends 2 come out?

There’s no official “League of Legends 2.” Instead, a major overhaul to the existing game is expected to be rolled out sometime in 2027. Riot confirmed that big changes are in store for players.

Is League Next a new game?

Not exactly. League Next is best described as a remake-level overhaul of the current League of Legends game.

What is the rumor about League of Legends 2?

The LoL 2 rumor centers on a 2027 modernization (often referred to as League Next), featuring a new integrated client, a revamped map, and changes to broader systems.

Will League of Legends change in 2026?

Yes. League of Legends has already announced numerous significant changes that will arrive in 2026.

Is Project L still happening?

Yes. Project L (now confirmed as 2XKO) is Riot Games’ upcoming 2v2 tag-team fighting game. It entered Early Access in October 2025 and is scheduled for release as a free-to-play title in January 2026.

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