As of writing this guide, players have started receiving Beta Access to League Next! Yes, you heard that right! Are you one of those lucky few?
Now, before you shoot off and launch LoL, hear me out. I know this is nothing short of BREAKING NEWS for us. For well over 2 decades, we’ve been playing the same League of Legends on that same, old-school, clunky client.
THAT’S 15+ years to put it in another perspective!
To be honest, I’ve never really understood to date why Riot Games kept up a separate client and game program that don’t even have any link to each other all this time? Nevertheless, I don’t think there’s any benefit in discussing this now, because it looks like we’ll be getting rid of it for once and all with the upcoming League of Legends 2!
Here’s all you need to know about League of Legends rework, release date, rumors, and more!
Why Update the League of Legends Game?
At first glance, the question sounds strange. League of Legends is still one of the most played games in the world. So why touch it at all?
The short answer is simple: time has caught up!
Despite its global success, League of Legends is built on very old technology. The client is slow, clunky, and many players still complain about crashes and lag during champion select or loading screens. Even Riot’s own support guides show players have to jump through hoops just to keep the game running smoothly.
As you see above, that’s not a great look in 2025. And that’s not all.
Graphically and structurally, League of Legends is lacking compared to other live-service titles. There’s only so much Riot can do with cosmetics and smaller updates before players start feeling like the game is stuck in the past. It’s no surprise, then, that League of Legends 2 rumors and League of Legends remake discussions spread like wildfire.
Then there’s the typical match length in LoL. You see, in a world of shorter attention spans, 40-minute games don’t always fit modern players. As such, a cleaner, faster experience under League Next can solve that.
But beyond tech problems, the business side matters too. According to Bloomberg’s own report, Riot is feeling pressure because titles like Valorant are now making more money than LoL, and League’s player base has dipped.
On top of that, Riot has reportedly reorganized its internal teams. By 2026, fewer developers may work on the core game, meaning big updates could slow down. This further fuels League of Legends 2 rumors, leaks, and talk of a League of Legends 2 release date, with many pointing to League of Legends 2 2026 as a turning point.
What is League Next? New Changes Planned for LoL 2
So, what exactly is League Next? In simple terms, it’s the codename for Riot Games’ next big step for League of Legends. And yes, this is the closest thing we’ve ever seen to League of Legends 2.
Interestingly, the news didn’t come from Riot at first. Bloomberg broke the story, and just 15 minutes later, Riot released an official video confirming the project. That alone tells us just how important this is for the future of the franchise. Moreover, it also confirmed what players have suspected for years: the current game has serious technical limits.
The biggest change? The game and launcher will finally run on a single integrated engine. That means no more separate client and game application. Everything from menus to matchmaking to gameplay will feel faster and more connected, giving a true League of Legends rework experience.
Visually, League Next promises a full overhaul of Summoner’s Rift (the first major update of its kind in LoL history) with new graphics, models, and environments. Gameplay isn’t being ignored either: there are plans for new gameplay elements in competitive matches, plus big adjustments to systems like runes and pre-game setups.
But perhaps the most important change is for new players. League Next will massively improve the new player experience, making the game easier to understand and less scary to start. This will, in turn, help fresh players jump into the action without feeling lost.
Is League of Legends 2 Going to Be a Sequel?
Is League of Legends 2 actually a sequel?
- Short answer: No.
- Long answer: It’s a bit more interesting than that.
You see, Riot Games has been very clear on this point. There is no traditional sequel to League of Legends in development. Instead of building a brand-new game from scratch, Riot is choosing to rebuild and modernize the existing LoL through League Next. This means your champions, skins, accounts, and progress are staying right where they are.
That said, it’s easy to see why many fans are calling this League of Legends 2. The scale of the changes, from a new engine and visual overhaul to system reworks and gameplay updates, all this feels massive.
When you put it this way, it’s very similar to what Valve did with Counter-Strike 2 or Blizzard with Overwatch 2. Technically upgrades, but big enough that the “2” label stuck anyway.
So while Riot avoids the League of Legends 2 name, the community hasn’t. Between League of Legends 2 rumors, leaks, and speculation around a League of Legends remake, the idea of LoL 2 lives on.
In reality, League Next is Riot’s way of evolving League without splitting the player base. Honestly, in my opinion, this is the smartest move they can make.
League of Legends 2 Release Date
Right now, we don’t know for sure when League of Legends 2 is actually coming out. However, that hasn’t stopped leaks and rumors from spreading fast.
The biggest League of Legends 2 leak comes from Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. According to several translations, a post by LoL pro Park claimed that League of Legends 2 release date could be as early as the second half of 2026. The post was later deleted, which only made people more curious. As one widely shared translation puts it:
“According to a deleted post by Park, League of Legends 2 could come out as early as 2H 2026. While the gameplay is the same, it’s expected that LoL 2 will have a complete technical redesign and upgrade, including potentially a new engine.”
The same rumor also mentions large-scale balance changes, including improvements to champion abilities and core gameplay systems. The goal, supposedly, is to make the game feel smoother and more balanced; something that fits perfectly with what we already know about League Next and the planned League of Legends rework.
That said, this is still just a rumor. Translations can be wrong, and the original post being deleted makes things even less clear. It could have been a real leak or simply taken out of context. Riot Games has not confirmed a League of Legends 2 release date yet.
Still, with so many signs pointing to League of Legends 2 2026, it’s easy to see why fans believe something big is coming very soon.
My Thoughts on League Next
Personally, I think League Next was not just a choice; it was a necessity. Bloomberg has already pointed out the financial pressure behind this move. While League of Legends is still huge, its player base has slowly declined, and Valorant now brings in more money for Riot Games. When you look closer, this makes perfect sense.
Valorant’s skins work across every agent, so almost every player can buy and use them. League of Legends, on the other hand, has over 170 champions. A skin for a popular champion can sell extremely well, but a skin for an unpopular one might only interest 5-10% of the player base. That’s a hard system to scale long-term, and it’s one reason a League of Legends rework feels overdue.
The internal dev team changes also worry me a little. Reports suggest that by 2026, fewer developers will work on the current game, meaning slower updates and less content in the short term. That’s a real risk, especially for live-service games.
Still, I see this as Riot doubling down on the future. League of Legends 2, or whatever name finally sticks, is clearly meant to keep the game alive for another decade. League already defines modern esports and remains the most-watched competitive game in the world.
If Riot executes League Next correctly, this could be the reset League needs. Not just to survive, but to dominate well into the 2030s.
FAQs About League of Legends 2
Is League of Legends 2 Coming Out?
There’s no official League of Legends 2 confirmed yet, though leaks suggest a possible major update or release as early as 2026.
Will There Be a League of Legends 2?
Riot says it is not making a standard sequel; instead, it’s updating the current game with major changes.
Will LoL Skins Carry Over in League of Legends 2?
No official word yet, but because League Next is an update and not a new game, skins will most probably carry over. At least fans hope so.
How Many Skins Are in League of Legends 2025
As of late 2025, League of Legends has around 1,800+ skins across all champions.
How Many Champions Are in League of Legends 2025
As of December 2025, there are 172 champions in the game.
To Wrap Things Up
As someone who’s played League for years, this feels massive. The game has felt a bit stale lately, and while early 2026 changes helped, they didn’t fully convince me.
League Next, however, sounds like a true turning point. It’s a true rebuild. I hope Riot takes bold ideas from newer rivals and isn’t afraid to shake up core gameplay. New lanes? New roles? Anything’s possible.
What do you say? Do you have any suggestions for League of Legends 2? The comment section is here for you to share your thoughts with us!