Riot Games, the developers behind League of Legends, have hinted at the possibility of implementing additional restrictions for new accounts seeking access to the game’s ranked mode.
As the 2024 ranked season kicks off, players are actively engaged in the competitive grind, striving to achieve higher ranks to showcase their prowess within the community. To determine their rank, players are required to complete placement games, a process that has recently led to some discovering lower ranks than anticipated.
Acknowledging this issue, Riot Games issued an apology, clarifying that the current placements reflect players’ true Matchmaking Rating (MMR) after some were intended to be demoted in the preceding season.
In light of this, the developers have not only addressed the rank disparities but have also urged new players to participate in normal games before venturing into the ranked mode.
“Play some normal games before queueing up for your first ranked game ever (new accounts only) so we can seed you correctly.”
“We’re investigating making playing some normals a prerequisite to playing ranked, but that won’t be for a bit.”
“If you’re a new player it’s probably good to get some practice in anyway.”
Riot emphasized the importance of playing a couple of normal games to facilitate accurate seeding into the correct rank. Furthermore, they revealed ongoing investigations into potential new prerequisites for entering the ranked mode, suggesting that players might be required to engage in a certain number of normal games before gaining access.
While this feature is not set to be implemented immediately, players have been given a grace period to engage in ranked matches before any new prerequisites are introduced.
The developers’ commitment to creating a balanced and fair ranked environment is evident in their proactive approach to addressing rank and considering additional measures to ensure a more accurate representation of player skills in the competitive ladder.
As the ranked season progresses, players can anticipate further updates from Riot Games aimed at refining the ranked experience and maintaining a healthy environment.