Riot’s Uncertainty Over “League of Legends” (LoL)
Since its inception, one of the key factors that has attracted players to League of Legends has been its “Free to Play” model. Simply put, players do not need to spend money to access the full gaming experience. However, League of Legends also has other elements to generate revenue, and players can choose to “pay to win” if they wish.
However, in the new policies coming in 2025, League of Legends might lose its most crucial feature that attracts players – the Free to Play model. According to reports, the Essence system may no longer be available through traditional gameplay and will instead be incorporated into the Battle Pass. Some players have calculated that if they want to reach level 50, they would need to play approximately 882 hours to unlock additional rewards.
For a new player (who cannot receive all free rewards like existing accounts), this change will significantly impact their experience. On average, a player would only receive around 4,600 Essence per quarter (3 months), which is not enough to obtain any new champions. Additionally, skins may also lose their effectiveness if they are exclusive to champions that players do not own.
League of Legends Community Feels “Betrayed” by Riot
Not only in the VCS (Vietnam Championship Series), but the League of Legends community worldwide has also expressed dissatisfaction with the new policies from Riot. Obviously, these changes are very difficult to attract new players. New players are almost left with only one option: to pay to experience the full features of the game – the previously celebrated “Free to Play” model is now under threat.
Moreover, the sentiment of disappointment is quite overwhelming. Previously, Riot announced a significant change in 2025, and the community had hoped for a positive direction. However, it seems that everything is now heading in the exact opposite direction, leading to an undeniable sense of loss.
