The 2021 season can be seen as one of the most transformative seasons for the League of Legends community. Beyond the transfer deals and the achievements of various teams, even in-game, League of Legends has seen numerous innovations. Prominent among these, and having the greatest impact on players, is the redesign of the in-game Shop interface.
Previously, the Shop interface in League of Legends was quite simple, consisting of a list of item names in a single column, while the rest was where players would shop for items. In the new interface, Riot has attempted to introduce new experiences for players. Specifically, instead of struggling to find the right item, the Shop can now automatically suggest the three most suitable items based on the current game state to counter opponents. Of course, players can still freely build items in their own style, but newer players will find it easier to make item choices.
However, for some other players, the new interface is not entirely optimal. The reasoning presented is that every League of Legends match is filled with variables and unpredictable situations, and following suggested items is not always the best approach. Not to mention, some items are categorized in ways that may not be very logical. One player pointed out that the Purple Knife is not listed under items suitable for Marksmen but is instead placed in the category for tank champions, even though it is a core item for Varus, Kog’Maw, and many other Marksmen.
Nevertheless, considering Riot’s goal of always wanting to expand League of Legends and increase the player base, the new interface is still doing its job well. As mentioned earlier, new players no longer need to rely on guide websites before returning to the game to build items, as the Shop now provides suitable item suggestions. Furthermore, below the items, information is provided on which champions are countered, along with details on common item builds, helping new players have a better gaming experience.
In the future, Riot will surely continue to find ways to optimize the existing features in League of Legends. New players and veterans will always have conflicts, but for Riot, as long as League of Legends continues to grow sustainably, the other details are no longer as important.