In recent years, Riot Games has been neglecting the development of new game modes, focusing instead on adjusting and bringing back old modes. In 2020, modes like All for One and URF are tied to special in-game events. Looking ahead, other modes like Nexus Blitz and Doom Bots will also be reintroduced similarly, making the emergence of new modes nearly impossible.
This has led to dissatisfaction among players who do not prioritize a “tryhard” mindset and are looking for something fresh in League of Legends, continuously requesting Riot Games to create new modes. In the latest Ask Riot, the creators of League of Legends clarified this point, noting that they cannot please everyone, so it is reasonable for Riot to choose to serve the majority.
Question: Why don’t we have new game modes like Star Guardian or Space Pirate in events?
Answer: Our goal in developing special game modes has changed significantly since the release of the two modes Star Guardian and Space Pirate. They created a huge shift in the main gameplay but did not retain players for long; they excited players for the first few matches but quickly returned to Summoner’s Rift once the novelty wore off.
Creating a new mode like that requires a significant departure from traditional League of Legends gameplay, such as fighting against monsters or NPCs in Space Pirate, which needs a considerable amount of time to perfect. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the time we spend developing is worth the time you enjoy that mode.
This means that we have heard feedback about recent events, especially regarding quality diminishing over time. In addition to bringing back game modes for each event—including All for One, ARURF, and Nexus Blitz this summer—we are still working to enhance the quality of the event ticket system and missions. We hope that everything will bring about positive changes for this year.
It is no coincidence that among the many modes that have been released, only ARAM and Teamfight Tactics have been made permanent game modes by Riot Games. They have their own appeal and are played continuously for extended periods instead of just a few matches like other modes.
Furthermore, Riot’s special game modes are essentially designed to promote newly released skins; however, this approach has proven to be less effective than introducing them through trailers, new stories, or cinematic videos. When players are not particularly invested and engaged for the long term, it makes sense that the publisher seeks better ways to promote skins, leading to the neglect of special game modes.