Image: Riot Games
League of Legends players have plenty to be excited about in 2025.
League of Legends (LoL) developer Riot Games has shared major upcoming changes to matchmaking, Champion Art & Sustainability Updates (ASU), seasonal content, as well as more of their plans for the game in 2025.
These updates were discussed in a new Dev Update video featuring Head of League Studio Andrei “Meddler” van Roon, Executive Producer Paul 'Pabro' Bellezza, Lead Gameplay Designer Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, and Eduardo “Cadmus” Cortejoso. We listed down the most exciting changes below:
Arena becomes a rotating feature, but no permanent plans for Swarm
Arena, one of the most successful game modes released for LoL, will return as a rotating mode in the first half of 2025 but will not become a permanent feature. Arena is a 2v2v2v2 combat mode where four teams of two players face off in fast-paced rounds, competing to be the last team standing.
Swarm, LoL's' PvE bullet hell mode with survivor-style gameplay, featuring Anima Squad versions of LoL characters, also performed well but won’t become a permanent feature. Despite its success compared to the Star Guardian and Odyssey modes, Riot does not plan to keep Swarm in the game long-term.
Matchmaking changes and smurf detection
Riot Games also made significant improvements to matchmaking. Players should no longer encounter situations where they lose more LP for a defeat than they gain for a win. Additionally, games with imbalanced autofilled players, such as 2:0 or 3:1 ratios, have been reduced.
Riot is also evaluating the potential implementation of TrueSkill2, a system that could improve smurf placement in matchmaking.
Teemo's ASU and skin updates
Teemo’s Art & Sustainability Update (ASU) will arrive with Patch 14.20. As part of this update, the Happy Elf, Recon, and Badger Teemo skins will increase in price from 520 RP to 750 RP, though players can still buy them at the current price until the patch goes live. Teemo will also be receiving a theme song, set to release in early October.
LoL Player Days
To celebrate the game's 15th anniversary, LoL Player Days will kick off on October 9. Players can complete missions to earn in-game rewards, including the “Ann-Sivir-sary” Sivir skin.
There will also be three Player Days skins: Cosplayer Neeko, Esports Fan Trundle, and Music Fan Gragas. All proceeds from these skin purchases, between 9 and 28 October, will be donated to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund, with Riot contributing a 3x match.
2025 seasonal content
In 2025, there will be three thematic seasons, each featuring its own narrative, progression system, and content updates. A new champion will be released with each season, aligned with the theme.
The team is also exploring gameplay improvements, including ways to address the feeling of helplessness when a losing team’s Nexus is exposed. This is just a preview of of what’s to come in 2025, with more details expected in future updates.