“2025 will change League of Legends forever,” game director Pu ‘Pupulasers’ Liu said back in 2023. This is the year that the MOBA supposedly levels up: new lore-inspired Rifts, new modes, a new battle pass – the list goes on. Yet, as the excitement around Arcane Season 2 tapers off and the seasonal model continues to struggle, 2025 feels like it’s been more turbulent than transformative. The gacha-esque Sanctum continues to prove divisive, skin quality has been variable (with one being pulled entirely), and battle pass rewards – specifically the removal of Hextech Chests – have alienated long-time players. A glance at the game’s subreddit, or even X (formerly Twitter) paints a picture of discontent and concerns for the future.

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