Boards›Announcements

Upcoming Changes to Rotating Game Modes

Riot·1/30/2018, 1:23:09 AM·6 votes·163,654 views

TL;DR: We won’t be running a RGM with every patch anymore. We’re going to continue to run the most popular modes, but our main focus will be on creating more new modes to launch alongside events as well as experimenting with older modes.

Rotating Game Modes in 2018

We went into last year with a renewed focus on supporting events by creating new modes to make each event special. We saw a lot of positive reactions to modes like Star Guardian: Invasion and The Hunt of the Blood Moon, and more of you showed up to play when we succeeded at making something new and distinct. We want to build on these successes in 2018.

We’ve been building a better groundwork of tools that will allow us to create better, more polished maps and modes going forward. In 2018 our focus is on two things:

  1. Delivering fun and better modes for events
  2. Experiment more with classic modes (i.e. Ascension) to give them new life

Not too different than where we were last year, but the big change is how often we’ll be running RGMs. We’re moving away from every patch to a more sporadic schedule.

Developing new modes can take a tremendous amount of time (Invasion took over four months), and we think putting our focus towards developing new modes is the best way to deliver better experiences for you.

Old modes aren’t going anywhere though. We’ll still be running favorites like ARURF, One for All, and others throughout the year. There simply won’t be an RGM every patch.

We’ve got some big plans, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store. First up this year will be Hunt of the Blood Moon in 8.3 and then the long awaited return of One for All in 8.6!

402 Comments

Exiled Potato1/30/2018, 8:10:25 PM198 votes

So then does this mean that we won't be getting an alternate game mode every weekend? Because I've grown so tired of the normal games. I did the alternate ones to de-tilt and I've actually had more fun with them than in normals.[sg-janna]

Wendígo1/30/2018, 7:30:57 PM132 votes

Well, shit RGMs were great to take a break from the standard modes...

scammed lol1/30/2018, 8:15:18 PM103 votes

I'm confused how developing a new game mode makes you unable to keep one running on live? Literally just turn on the mode and let it run, it's already been made. Nothing's stopping you from working on a new mode in that time.

Also, add these modes to custom games ffs. You are legit missing out on so many potential play hours from people by not doing that.

And bring back real URF, thanks.

MJ95621/30/2018, 8:24:14 PM51 votes

I just want one for all and URF :'(

im babydog1/30/2018, 7:26:19 PM35 votes

Well, that makes me sad. RGM's were fun to get away from SR and ARAM isn't that fun since I end up stuck with Champions I hate playing pretty often thanks to the weekly rotation and champs I've been gifted. :( [sg-soraka]

BubbaV1/30/2018, 7:26:14 PM34 votes

You’ll be running the most popular game modes excluding the most popular game mode.

Sorry, but ARURF isn’t a favorite. I see nothing wrong with putting ARURF out if you put at LEAST regular URF in custom games. Putting out both would make the best of both worlds, so what’s holding you back?

Meepie1/30/2018, 8:44:55 PM34 votes

I always look forward to those rotating game modes. It was a very nice get away from Summoner rift and ARAM and twisted treeline. I used to play nothing but crystal scar before you removed it. It was nice just to run around catch those towers and fight. I guess I will have to wait and see what your plans are then. Hopefully, you put ONE FOR ALL on the Howling Abyss map, since that's the most fun people have with it. I'll be looking forward to seeing your new ideas. As for now though, I need to find a new game.

[sg-soraka]

Zuizi1/30/2018, 8:56:09 PM29 votes

This news is devastating.

StarGuardianWeeb1/30/2018, 10:23:09 PM24 votes

I blame this 100% on people who bitched every patch that LOTPK and Acsension were every week :/ I was fine with them (and occasionally others) being "the usual" while once every 2-3 months we got a big new game mode. Now we just suffer in current rift until whenever like events were before RGM was made or play ARAM :/

SlammyWhammies1/31/2018, 12:35:22 AM24 votes

This is pretty disappointing tbh I had a lot more fun in rotating game modes than in normals... people are less serious/toxic and there's less stress and micromanaging

Lil Daddy Rakan1/31/2018, 3:55:37 PM20 votes

“We’ll still be running favorites like ARURF,”

Literally everyone I know hates ARURF but they play it anyway because it’s the closest thing to actual URF

AmethysteBlitz1/30/2018, 11:54:08 PM19 votes

Ah.... The removal of RGM's every patch. I didn't know I dreaded this until now. The alternate game modes were a real staple in my group of friends' weekends if there was one we all really enjoyed, like All-for-One and Poro King.

Would it really be too much to ask to at least keep the good modes that people enjoy for longer periods? Invasion was an absolute blast that almost everybody loved. It'd be nice to keep certain modes for lengthily periods rather than for only 1 patch and then nothing for 3 patches while we wait for the next mode...

[sg-soraka]

SOSABoomBoxx1/30/2018, 11:42:43 PM14 votes

When is Hexakill gonna come back? is Hexakill gonna come back?

Agent Corgi1/30/2018, 7:55:00 PM13 votes

So since you guys aren't running RGM every patch (Weekends Friday - Monday), do you guys plan on keeping RGM active the entirety of a patch & then deactivating it for the next few patches or so? Like, Would the Rotating Game Mode be active throughout the entirety of Patch 8.3 (from 2/7/18 - 2/21/18, including weekdays & Weekends), then deactivated until Patch 8.6 (The return of One-for-All).

Vhan87651/30/2018, 9:32:53 PM10 votes

It's really unfortunate that the RGMQ won't be returning every patch.

Perhaps I can't speak for everyone, but at least from my experiences it felt like a lot of people played it a ton. Hopefully this decision isn't permanent and will be looked over once more of the game modes are rebuilt and stable.

The RGMQ was the best place to farm for Hextech chests on champions you weren't entirely too good with on SR; it still was challenging to get the S for your chest but didn't feel like I had to play a ton of games to full on learn the champion just for an S like you do in SR.

ßard the ßard1/30/2018, 9:49:46 PM10 votes

oh

kagepaladin1/30/2018, 11:39:29 PM8 votes

sitting here still waiting for black market brawlers sadly knowing it's gone for good ;(

Reaper85121/30/2018, 11:38:34 PM7 votes

Is Nemesis mode ever going to return? I loved that mode.

RNG Tyler11/30/2018, 10:33:01 PM7 votes

Just no more Snow ARURF plz

MsSaigon1/30/2018, 11:20:32 PM7 votes

I'm sad too that RGM won't be returning every patch. I love taking a break and just playing the side modes. Not everyone cares for the rage Summoner's Rift induces.

Jeddy0171/30/2018, 7:44:51 PM7 votes

Honestly, I'm not that big a fan of this idea. But whatever, I'll live with it.

Cosnirak1/31/2018, 12:40:35 AM7 votes

"we think putting our focus towards developing new modes is the best way to deliver better experiences for you"

Well, I disagree. I like new modes just fine and want more of them, but I feel that this is going to mean a big hit to older modes and tweaking them and I think in the long run this is a very bad move.

Just as Riot's stance on creating new champions hurts them some every time it makes a patch harder to balance or further delays revamping an old game mode, this 'new stuff all the time time' philosophy will come with significant pain and costs elsewhere as well.

I completely understand the need for new in a game, but the pacing has to be reasonable and I think Riot is blind to fact that their foot is still on the gas pedal when it should be tapping on the breaks.

EDIT: Also the PROJECT Hunter mode thingy was awful, like really really awful (looked pretty, gameplay was terribad). Please kill it with fire and maybe void energies.

MoldyCheese11/30/2018, 11:04:38 PM6 votes

And i dont mean to be greedy or anything but can PLEASE work on custom versions of the game modes again? I loved playing with 10 friends on af1 or urf and just doing stupid shit, if you try in normals people may tilt leave rage and tbh shit stomping someone into the ground is only fun for one side i kinda feel bad when i get something like varus, karma, janna, fizz, zed, etc and someone gets something like mord and i perma kill him under tower for 20 minutes.

SIDE NOTE

add something like snowball to help those immobile guys against the poke gods it was the best part about the limited pool in Snowdown

[slayer-jinx-catface]

Hashashin261/30/2018, 7:28:09 PM2 votes

Wait so is are the blood moon and lunar revel skins going to release in patch 8.3?