What's Easier? Creating a Champion or Updating an Old One?(Can Any Rioters Help Answer This?)

Mastery 7 Inter·12/1/2019, 12:36:31 AM·1 votes·946 views

Is it just me who's curious as to why so many champions will be released within a year vs how many champions get updated? I understand that sometimes it can be due to unpopularity in a champion but there's no real reason to support the addition of new champions being released with the lore of Runeterra constantly changing and the meta being updated consistently. It was argued that popularity could be indeed be the reason as to why some champions are not bothered being touched. But if that's the case than can there be a reason as to why Gragas(who's popularly seen in the pro picks, high elo, and even in some normal games) wasn't put in the voting poll at all during the discussion on who'd be updated next? Am I the only one curious to why this is the case? Do the players get no say in whether we want new champions or some of our classic ones to be updated?

Also just for curiosity, vote in the poll below. Just want to see if anyone here would prefer a new champion over a seeing old and out of place champions get updated.

6 Comments

Toxicate1312/1/2019, 12:40:00 AM2 votes

I actually hate how frequently new champs are released. It makes this game harder and harder for new players to pick up. Also, there are a shit ton of outdated champions like Udyr that I would love to see receive a rework.

Kazekiba12/1/2019, 2:30:23 AM2 votes

I think they've said that while its handled by different teams, VGUs are much harder. They have to maintain an existing player's perception of the champions and build on prior stories+interactions while updating and modernizing the kit.

As much as people complain about Sylas etc., there's a reason Aatrox Akali Galio Gangplank Poppy Talon Taric Irelia are so difficult to balance and often complained about or left dumpstered; as reworks they're largely failures. Sion, Urgot Warwick, Pantheon dont happen often. These are, iirc, Riots most successful VGUs in terms of retention and satisfaction from players on both sides- As and against.

CurS1VE12/1/2019, 2:57:06 AM2 votes

I actually like that Riot has put out New Champs as well as Updates to outdated Kits. For all the Memes ppl put on the company there are so many Games that just flat out doesn't do this, in fact I haven't ever really experienced a game like this where so much is put into both new kits as well as updating old kits (while trying to maintain the general feel of those characters)

Updating is harder because there is already a perception of what that champ represents so you can't just start from scratch and design whatever.

I like that there are constantly new things otherwise this game gets old WAY too quick when you are playing like 5 games a day that may not seem like a lot to super hardcore ppl but that could mean a lot of time invested.

SO yeah, I'll go to Prom with you [vlad-salute]

Mastery 7 Inter12/1/2019, 12:48:28 AM1 votes

Right?! Like I'd be happy to see Udyr updated. Imagine Trick's face the day that'd happen

Quality Content12/1/2019, 12:54:04 AM1 votes

They both have their challenges. New champs have to bring something new and unique to the game while updates have to fix existing problems without chasing away too many mains.

Gragas wasn't in that poll because he doesn't need a full VGU. He'll probably get a model update when they have spare art resources for it.