Summary
- League of Legends is adding new restrictions to players' accounts, with a heavier requirement to enter Ranked queue for the first time.
- New accounts will now be required to play 10 unranked games on League of Legends' Summoner's Rift map before being eligible to play Ranked.
- Lead Gameplay Designer Matt Leung-Harrison cited "smurf accounts" and players leveling with ARAM and Bot matches as the major factors behind the new requirements.
League of Legends is making a change to the requirements for playing Ranked matches, now requiring players to participate in unranked matches on Summoner's Rift beforehand. The massively popular MOBA from Riot Games features a plethora of different ways to play, aside from its traditional 5v5 matches. "ARAM" offers unique gameplay with all players using randomized champions on a one-lane map, while "Arena" features a faster League of Legends experience with 2v2 duels against other duos. Now, one of the MOBA's most popular game modes is seeing a major change in Patch 14.15.
Ranked Queue has long been one of the most-played game modes in League of Legends, pitting players against one another in a competitive environment. Ranked Queue features players duking it out in a classic 5v5 match on Summoner's Rift, with winners able to gain valuable LP and raise their rank all the way from Iron to Challenger. Ranked play currently does feature some restrictions, though, with only players who are Level 30 or higher and own at least 20 Champions eligible. However, Riot Games is looking to add some new restrictions to the game mode.
As reported by PCGamesN, Lead Gameplay Designer Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison is detailing the new restrictions for League of Legends' Ranked mode. Alongside the previous requirements, new accounts will now need to play at least ten unranked matches on Summoner's Rift to be eligible for Ranked play. Leung-Harrison cited new players leveling up using ARAM and Bot matches as a major driver behind the change, needing a better method to gauge their skill level before entering Ranked. The developer also confirmed that the change is one that Riot has planned for a long time.
League of Legends Rolling Out New Restrictions for Ranked Play
League of Legends' new Ranked changes also labeled "smurf accounts" as a driving factor behind the Ranked restrictions. Leung-Harrison cited the desire to place new accounts for experienced players at a more appropriate skill level, rather than setting them low and allowing more experienced players to "stomp everyone on their way up." The post mentioned players engaging in account selling and sharing as well, referencing using Riot's "Vanguard" anti-cheat system to crack down on offenders.
The new changes to League of Legends' Ranked game mode come as Riot Games has made waves throughout the year with its upcoming spinoffs. The studio officially revealed the in-development League of Legends fighting game earlier this year as "2XKO," with plans for a beta test in 2024 and a full release in 2025. Riot Games also confirmed it would be "resetting development" on the upcoming League of Legends MMORPG, suggesting fans will have to wait several years for the game's launch. With League of Legends' IP constantly expanding, the new changes should help improve the original game's competitive ladder.
League of Legends
- Released
- October 27, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
League of Legends is one of the best MOBAs in the world, allowing players to duke it out against each other or bots in a variety of game modes. There are tons of champions to choose from in LoL, with favorites like Yasuo, Graves, Nasus, Poppy, and more, with new champions like Vex and Viego recently joining the crew.
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Riot Games
- Publisher(s)
- Riot Games
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- League of Legends
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- MOBA
