The player base is aging but League devs are working on ways to attract newer players: Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
There’s a common question always seen on Reddit or social media, and it’s “Is League of Legends dying?”
According to statistics reported by Prior Data, in 2022, the game peaked at 180 million players, and although the numbers dropped slightly to an average of 150 million in 2023 and 132 million in 2024 (according to Strafe.com), it's forecasted to reach a similar average by year-end.
However, in a recent article by PC Gamer, League of Legends Game Director Pu Liu, revealed that the player base is aging, with younger players preferring VALORANT, another popular Riot Games products, among other titles.
And as LoL enters its 15th year, it faces a pivotal moment. The challenge is adapting to an evolving player base while honouring its legacy.
In a recent conversation GosuGamers had with Pu Liu, he shared insights into how the younger players interact with League of Legends, and how the game is reshaping itself to attract younger generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
A Changing Landscape
Liu began by acknowledging the dramatic shifts in the gaming landscape.
“The gaming landscape has changed. There’s a lot more competition. Player expectations have evolved. The way that players engage socially and what they prioritise when it comes to social interactions are different.”
This shift requires that LoL meets players where they are, including an active presence on platforms like TikTok, where the game recently celebrated crossing a million followers, according to Liu.
Engaging New Generations
With an emerging diverse and younger player base, Liu emphasised the importance of understanding their motivations.
“They grew up on different games than the previous generation did,” he stated.
This evolution has resulted in a wealth of shared memories through esports and creative expressions, from memorable cosplays to community-driven content.
“What we really have never lost sight of…keep honed in on is “What do players want from our game? How do they want to experience it?” Liu added. “And I think the answer is it's just different for the new generation than for the previous one.”
The LoL Game Director also shared how the LoL team needed to learn more about the next generation, focusing on how new players interact socially and what they prioritise.
“We need to be students. We need to be humble,” he added, telling us that they needed to “meet them [the next generation] where they are, and adapt League of Legends to, be a better product for them.”
Improving accessibility for new players
To engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha effectively, LoL has introduced various improvements aimed at new players.
Recent initiatives include enhancing bot games to provide a safer learning environment and making Champion Mastery more fulfilling.
Pu Liu explained that they revamped the Blue Essence system and adjusted champion prices to make it easier for new players to collect champions.
Simpler champions are now available earlier and at a lower Blue Essence cost, while more complex ones remain priced higher
“We really want to make the new player goal structure better,” he explained. These are some of the short-term initiatives they’re looking into to keep the game accessible to newer players.
Pu mentioned that while they’ve made some short-term improvements, they’re also looking at long-term plans to enhance the overall player experience.
Their goal is to keep the game enjoyable for current players while also attracting new ones, like college students who might want to introduce friends and form teams.
They aim to make League of Legends a game that can enrich players’ lives, acknowledging that there’s still work to be done.
Balancing innovation and tradition
Liu made it clear that the primary focus remains on existing players.
“Our number one priority has been the people who love League of Legends. We don’t want to table flip on our existing players… These are like players who've been with us for many years.”
However, he also acknowledged the necessity of attracting new players. “We think there are things that we could do that make the experience better for existing players and for new players,” he remarked, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation and preserving core gameplay elements.
Liu explained that this could involve introducing new mechanics to make the game more fun, modes, or features that make the game more enjoyable without compromising its competitive integrity.
He also noted that they are aiming for a "win-win situation" for both audiences.
However, this approach means their options are limited, as Liu pointed out, "Our canvas is, you know, definitionally narrower... we can't do everything that comes to mind." Their goal is to balance the needs of both audiences while keeping the core gameplay intact.
Listening to Player Feedback
Understanding player needs is crucial for League’s ongoing development. Liu stressed the importance of player feedback, stating, “We do player labs to understand what the reaction is going to be.”
This approach helps ensure that new features genuinely meet player expectations, which is essential for maintaining a thriving community.
A Community-Centric Celebration
With the 15th anniversary on the horizon, the LoL team are focused on celebrating the community that has supported LoL over the years, aiming to "shine the mirror back at the players."
“I think a lot of, our celebrations for the 15 years is to be really reflective and grateful to our players,” Pu said.
“This celebration will be all about what players have gravitated to. We want to recognise and share players' stories with each other. It's not about us. It's about the players and it's about the community."
The goal is to reflect the passion and creativity of the community, from esports to music and cosplay. And hopefully, with players old and new alike in mind, League of Legends will continue to thrive and attract future generations.
The team plans to show their appreciation with three new skins, each paying tribute to a different aspect of the game: "something paying homage to e-sports, something to our music, and something to, like, player creativity, like cosplay."
One such notable skin revealed in a dev update yesterday was KDA Gragas, which was popularized by players who made fanart inspired by KDA.
Additionally, Riot Games will donate proceeds from the LoL Player Days skins to their Karma Fund, matching it with a 3X contribution to support global causes.