League of Legends has long been hailed as one of the most popular and successful multiplayer online games in the world. However, recent frustrations are beginning to mount among players who feel disenchanted with the game, and this is due in no small part to the uncharacteristically slower release schedule of late. The lifeblood of League of Legends has always been its rapid-fire release of new content, which kept the game fresh despite its remarkably repetitive and often frustrating experience.
As Riot Games, the developer of League, continues to delay promised content such as champion releases, alternate game modes, and much-anticipated game updates like Art and Sustainability Updates (ASUs), players are growing weary of the repetitive nature of the game. Furthermore, Riot’s focus on side projects, such as the rising popularity of Valorant, has only served to split resources away from their flagship title and add fuel to the fire. To retain their player base and sustain the game’s longevity, Riot Games must prioritize faster content releases and strike a balance between their various projects.
The repetitive nature of a game like League of Legends can be a double-edged sword. While the core gameplay mechanics are what initially captivate players, over time, the lack of fresh content can lead to a sense of stagnation. Without new champions to explore or exciting game modes to try, the gameplay experience can become monotonous and predictable. This sense of stagnation is detrimental to player engagement, as individuals yearn for novelty and a sense of progress within the game. Once upon a time, you never had to worry about this stagnation setting in, because Riot’s team was killing it with frequent updates and releases. That no longer seems to be the case.
We only need to look at the recent release of the new 2v2v2v2 game mode and champion, Naafiri, to show the power that change can have on the League of Legends platform. Seemingly overnight, League talk on popular social media platforms shifted from frustrated cries about the release schedule and the balance of the game to the excitement for League’s new content, which seems to be universally liked by the fandom. These updates are a great example of Riot doing something right for their flagship IP, but I remember a time where these kind of big releases were happening bimonthly, and not seemingly twice a year.
One of the key factors contributing to players’ frustration is Riot Games’ consistent delays in delivering promised content. New champion releases, ASUs, and game modes are eagerly anticipated by the player base, who expect regular updates to keep the game fresh and exciting. However, these delays have become a recurring theme, resulting in heightened frustration and a feeling of being let down. Players who eagerly await new content may find themselves growing disillusioned and eventually seek alternative gaming experiences — Something I’ve personally been seeing a lot of lately.
The worst of these delays come in the form of ASUs and reworks. The ASU project was created by Riot to breathe new life into old champions, something the game needs more and more of as it pushes past ten years of champion releases. The idea was that by having Riot’s skin team take on the burden of updating old champions, Riot could release several of these a year at a very quick rate. The tradeoff would be slightly fewer skin releases, which the community unanimously seemed okay with. Unfortunately, Riot was quickly unable to keep its projected rate of ASU releases and many of them have been delayed to next year, with full champion updates seeing even longer delays.
Riot Games’ expansion into other projects, such as Valorant, has led to concerns among the League of Legends community. Valorant’s rising popularity and rapid content updates have sparked debates about Riot’s allocation of resources and priorities. As players see Valorant receiving regular updates and attention, while LoL lags behind, they feel neglected and undervalued as a player base. Consequently, this has led to an increase in player attrition, with disillusioned individuals migrating to other games that offer a more timely and dynamic experience.
League of Legends players’ frustrations with the game’s slower release schedule are not unfounded. Riot Games must recognize the importance of timely content updates in retaining their player base and sustaining the game’s longevity. By addressing delays, striking a balance between projects, and actively focusing on LoL’s development, Riot Games can demonstrate their commitment to the community, revitalize player engagement, and ensure that League of Legends remains at the forefront of the gaming industry for years to come. Though it doesn’t seem like we’ll be seeing an increase to League’s release schedule any time soon, I still optimistically look forward to the new game modes promised this year, even if I’ll have less friends still playing the game to try them with me.
Comments