Leaks on upcoming League of Legends engine update
Recent leaks suggest that League of Legends might receive a long-overdue engine update in 2025. Released in 2009, the game was built on a proprietary engine tailored for its time. While this allowed League of Legends to run on a wide range of PCs, including lower-end systems, the aging technology now poses significant challenges for both developers and players.
The outdated engine limits Riot Games’ ability to innovate. Technical issues, like the notoriously buggy client, frequently frustrate players. Even small updates, such as the recent removal of Skarner’s old kit, have caused unexpected game-wide problems. These limitations make adding modern features or updating visual effects difficult and time-consuming for the development team.
During a podcast, MonteCristo revealed that Riot had planned an engine update for 2025. However, due to its scale and potential resource constraints, the update may have been delayed or scrapped. Despite this, well-known leaker Big Bad Bear has leaked on the exciting possibilities a new engine could bring.
One potential change is dynamic map designs. Currently, Summoner’s Rift sees only minor adjustments for seasonal or event-based updates. With an updated engine, Riot could create themed maps reflecting League of Legends regions, such as a Noxus, Ionia, or Piltover & Zaun-themed Summoner’s Rift. These changes could provide fresh visual experiences and immerse players further in the game’s rich lore.
The new engine could also revolutionize skins. Currently, Riot struggles to produce elaborate cosmetics like Elementalist Lux due to memory constraints. A modernized engine would allow for more advanced designs, potentially introducing Exalted-tier skins with groundbreaking animations and effects, setting a new standard for in-game cosmetics.
If the rumors prove true, an engine update could address League of Legends’ long-standing issues, streamline development, and enhance gameplay quality. It would modernize the game while maintaining its accessibility for players with older hardware. While Riot has yet to confirm the update, the potential improvements could mark a new chapter for the game, reaffirming its position as one of the most popular PC titles worldwide. Fans are eager to see if Riot delivers on these expectations by 2025.