Boards›Announcements

Legacy Client Officially Retires April 24

Riot·4/17/2017, 6:23:22 PM·49 votes·66,324 views

We've had good times with the legacy client.

The little blue box carried us from 2009 to 2017, but it's finally time to say goodbye. Beginning April 24, the legacy client will officially be retired in NA. All other regions can expect to get the update within the coming weeks.

We’ve put together an FAQ to address some questions you may have:

  • What’s the big deal about the new client anyway?

    The updated client has been built from the ground up to use newer technology that allows us to develop features faster. Most importantly, it gives League a strong foundation it can stand on for many years to come—because we will support League for a LONG time. Since the beginning of open beta, we've shipped two big new features on the updated client: Practice Tool and Replays.

    There are also a slew of quality-of-life improvements:

    • Pop out the message window, move it around wherever you want, and resize it freely
    • Automatically hide mobile or offline friends in a group on your friends list
    • Drag'n'drop to rearrange rune and mastery pages
    • Shift click to assign 9 runes at once
    • Ability to change in-game settings from the client
    • More control on sound settings tunings than in legacy

    The work on the client’s not done yet. We’re hard at working on performance and stability improvements as well as new features. When we’re confident that it offers a better experience than the legacy client, we’ll upgrade all players to use the new client.

    Check out our previous beta update to learn more about why we're replacing the legacy client and our future plans for rolling it out.

  • There are some other things I don't like about the new client. Why replace it now?

    We've talked about a bunch of the reasons here.

    Short version though: there are huge development costs to maintaining two clients. Killing legacy unblocks Riot to go full steam ahead on new client feature development. Until we move on from the legacy client, things like 10 bans just can't happen (or we'd have to develop them twice).

    We'd be bullshitting you if we said we think the new client is 100% perfect. It's not. We've been listening to players' complaints and concerns throughout the process, and we're going to keep improving the new client after the legacy client is gone.

    Here's a few concerns that we've heard from players which we'll be mindful of going forward:

    • The current design of our drop-down menus makes editing masteries take more clicks (and scrolling) when compared to legacy client. We'll think about how to solve the UX issues they've been causing.
    • The chat module covers up vital parts of the client, including the "confirm" button which lets players get into game. This can be solved by popping out the chat module and moving it wherever the player wants, but further work could probably be done here
    • Players are forced to wait until pick phase is over to choose their skin. This was not the case with the legacy client.
    • Champ search could be improved in a few different ways to let players sort the list how they want.
    • Profile is missing many of the "career stats" which were available in the legacy client. We've actually committed to rebuilding more stats into the client during upcoming work on the profile page.
    • Players dislike being unable to close or minimize the friends list. This could potentially be solved by allowing players to cover that area with other content.
    • The "first win of the day" timer should show the countdown down to the minute or second rather than just the hour.

    We've heard this feedback (and more), and we take it very seriously. While we can't solve this stuff before we retire the legacy client, we will continue to improve the new client and take this feedback into consideration.

  • Who will be upgraded?

    Everyone. You’ll see a new screen that will highlight the upgrade process the next time you launch League. Once the upgrade process is complete, when you click on “LAUNCH," you’ll launch into the new client..

  • Can I go back to using the legacy client after April 24?

    No, the goal of the client rollout is to replace the legacy client. To learn more about why we're replacing the legacy client, check here.

  • I gave it a try before and it was too laggy / slow, why should I try it again?

    Performance and stability has come a long way since the beginning of the year. We’ve also introduced a Low-Spec mode that automatically detects your specs and defaults to recommended settings to ensure a smooth experience. If you had trouble before, we're confident you'll have a better experience with our latest patch.

  • I liked item sets—why isn’t the item set creator tool in the new client yet?

    Initially, due to the low use of item sets, we hadn’t planned to bring it back with the new client and focus on making other areas better instead. However we’ve heard a lot of feedback and reconsidered our decision. We now intend to rebuild the item set creator tool, but haven't yet started development work on it, so it could take quite some time even after we replace the legacy client. Of course, replacing the legacy client still comes first. In the meantime we still totally support item sets in-game (you don't lose your existing item sets when you update your client).

  • I have feedback to share, how do I submit it to Riot?

    Share your feedback with us on the Client Discussion boards.

If you run into technical issues / bugs, please use the icon at the bottom right of the client to submit a bug report.

  • What’s next?

    We will continue rolling out the updated client to more and more regions while keeping you updated of our plans as we move forward.

    • 1,337 Comments

    Fenikkuro4/17/2017, 6:57:44 PM395 votes

    Welp, this sucks. Item sets is actually a super important feature and the only reason I've been using legacy. There's not even a time line for when we can expect the feature back. Upgrades are supposed to improve and add features, not take them away. If the feature parity isn't there between the new and old client, then you shouldn't force the switch yet.

    A Brave Toaster4/17/2017, 6:58:27 PM307 votes

    A new client that uses more resources and has less features. Yay.

    WitchQueen Annie4/17/2017, 7:00:09 PM249 votes

    new client lags, old one doesn't

    don't see why we need the new client

    jwu5614/17/2017, 10:05:00 PM155 votes

    April fools was a long time ago.

    Dannii San4/18/2017, 12:06:13 AM148 votes

    Literally Riot Games meeting

    "So the new client is unfinished, and we can't release it yet"

    "But it's pretty!"

    "Yes, but the low spec mode isn't fully working yet, we don't have item sets also."

    "pretty"

    "Are you even listening? Half of the people can't play League if we do this."

    "PRETTY."

    "OK FINE. Screw the old client"

    ModJikker4/17/2017, 10:18:31 PM148 votes

    "Work's not done on the client yet"

    ....

    So why are you releasing it? Have you not seen what happens in the video game industry when you have an unfinished product?

    I'm so excited for the client that has a cruddier PM system, lags even if you have a great, high end computer, and doesn't even maintain features like item sets yet. Seriously, those "benefits" for the most part are garbage. I'm all for a new client, but don't force this excuse of a new, improved client on us until you have it polished and done right. This is basically the Boards all over again. We're still technically in beta on the Boards and the bugs and lack of certain features are so obvious it's not even funny.

    Finish the new client THEN force us on it.

    RailgunGirl4/17/2017, 7:16:57 PM145 votes

    Legacy Client > Shitty Alpha Client

    Kasawiiiiiin4/17/2017, 6:59:09 PM138 votes

    RIP Legacy client. You will be missed (mostly because my crappy laptop doesn't run the new client very well, sometimes miss first ban).

    Maratsune4/18/2017, 12:35:49 AM131 votes

    "Literally none of us want the new client." "Okay, we're deleting the old client! New client for everybody!" k I'm not going to kid myself into thinking that a large amount of people are going to stop playing, just because this is League we're talking about. But I myself am likely going to continue the pattern of playing less and less and less that I've been on.

    Big Lincoln4/17/2017, 6:49:12 PM130 votes

    riot don't do it

    cquinn4/17/2017, 8:01:41 PM124 votes

    So what happened to 'We won't replace the old client until the new one is finished'????

    We still don't have chat rooms, item sets, resizable window, or half of the performance of the old client

    This sucks, you've killed off a whole segment of your community by not making chat rooms a priority, even though they're dead simple to implement (YOU ALREADY HAVE CLUBS IN AND NO ONE USES THEM EXCEPT MEME TAGS). Not to mention clubs have such a low limit of maximum users in them, where Chat rooms capped out at 200(!!!)

    Why lie and say you won't replace the old client until the new one is finished? What do you realistically stand to gain from forcing users to use an unfinished, unoptimized client?

    Stacona4/17/2017, 8:05:03 PM115 votes

    April 24th is the official quitting of League

    PrinceBedazzled4/17/2017, 7:20:18 PM105 votes

    I will really enjoy the 4 second delay clicking literally anything.

    Polecat4/17/2017, 8:15:29 PM103 votes

    Don't fix what isn't broken..

    i suck balls4/17/2017, 7:11:00 PM96 votes

    i really don't understand this. the new client doesn't have the item set tool (you haven't even started development on it) which is ridiculous. why not implement the new client after the item set tool is completed - since even you guys say players want it really badly?

    further, it's still laggy/buggy/glitchy/slow af, and i see no real benefits of it. draft/ranked = too glitchy/slow sometimes u might miss a ban/pick, blind = load in too slow to ever call ur position.

    one of the best things about league was that it runs on all types of toasters and literally everybody can play it without many inconveniences. there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the old client at all. all it was missing compared to the new one imo is the replay system, and i don't see how they needed a WHOLE NEW CLIENT just to implement a replay system?

    srsly riot, just why....?

    Small Tiddies4/17/2017, 11:49:40 PM81 votes

    Fuck you.

    Nëbùlâ4/17/2017, 11:44:45 PM75 votes

    The fact that there are more negative reactions to this than positive should say a lot about whether this should be implemented or not, you know.

    Bloomi4/17/2017, 9:27:07 PM74 votes

    Or just let people keep the old client instead of updating to this slowass shit made for people with fancy computers. I hate League more and more everyday with every shitty rework, update, and change. How about letting people refund champs that have been reworked or something else useful?

    Gamer54/17/2017, 9:45:55 PM64 votes

    Features I would like to see in the new client not mentioned in the post:

    • Random character button in champ select
    • Message of the Day for Clubs (move it somewhere that people can easily see it)
    • Public chat rooms
    • Difficulty choice for Twisted Treeline Co-op vs AI
    • Some way to know Red/Blue side in champ select when playing non-draft modes.
    • Being able to see # of games won for other players in post-game lobby

    Glad you're listening tho

    Tio Magique4/17/2017, 7:02:02 PM62 votes

    ;( bye bye old client! we will miss our item sets, ur better looking rune aspect, your "not bugginess" and ur window changable size. we wont forget u easly, you will remain in our hearts.

    Graveyard Ghoul4/17/2017, 7:39:57 PM58 votes

    I can never get over the fact that they said 'not a lot of people used item sets'. Where are you even getting those numbers when everything is saved locally? Everyone I knew used them, every stream I watched used them, I can sense the bullshit Riot. Don't try to hide behind fake numbers, just state that you guys originally didn't want to put it in but now outrage went by and you have to.

    Vanìty4/17/2017, 9:25:21 PM57 votes

    This is sad to read. As someone who had problems with the new client and still hears about how buggy or laggy it is from friends I cant believe we're being forced into an unfinished product. Cosmetically it might be an upgrade but Id like for it to function at 100% rather than look pretty.

    I7A6X2v24/17/2017, 10:05:30 PM56 votes

    **It's a big fçk ù to the players with low-end computer who get MASSIVE FPS DROP in ranked during ban phases. **

    allateup4/17/2017, 7:08:00 PM56 votes

    This is bullshit. I use item sets all the time and it's a great tool and I hate the new client for the simple fact it doesn't have it and have been using the legacy since the new ones release. For that sole purpose and now u take it away too... wtf.

    [(https://giphy.com/gifs/3oz8xIHoB64uYksaLm/html5)]

    IchBinDieScheiße4/17/2017, 8:25:04 PM54 votes

    Time for me to retire.

    TheT1ltedKing4/17/2017, 9:49:18 PM52 votes

    Low spec mode sucks either way this new client shouldn't be forced upon people ...dumb decision

    Cosnirak4/17/2017, 7:04:49 PM52 votes

    Performance issues (mostly crashes) are still the norm in the new client. Yes in low spec mode, no not on a toaster. I might just abstain from ranked until this gets better, which to be clear, I REALLY don't want to do.

    Also, the general look and feel of the new client is just worse. It's like a bunch of tiny text inside massive empty spaces compared to the old one. The hextech theme is cool, though I think you're going too far with some of the sounds. They don't need to be so loud and long. Please resize... everything.

    God on Bard4/17/2017, 9:34:40 PM52 votes

    This is bull riot. Your new client sucks i can barely get in to a game it so laggy. just leave the legacy client here for us.

    The Cheeze Wiz4/17/2017, 9:50:36 PM47 votes

    I have tried using the new client on several occasions. Even after the new client prompted me that low spec mode should fix the problems, they persisted. I tried the new client again yesterday and it was almost unplayable. I was kicked from queues for failure to accept (even though i was hitting the accept button like a maniac) and it takes about 5 full minutes for the new client to load my post game results. This is going to suck

    GrayPerception4/17/2017, 7:44:14 PM46 votes

    Bullshit, the only reason i currently use the new client is to launch the legacy client. legacy client is more fast, responsive, and reliable. I've had a set of games where the new client would crash my in game loading screen to the point to where i couldn't even play and had to suffer losses bc of a bullshit unfinished product, thats now being forced down my throat.

    Commander Cutie4/17/2017, 11:38:08 PM44 votes

    What a terrible decision. I love the nonchalant explanations too.

    "What if they are things I like about the old client that aren't included in the new one? What if the new client is laggy for me?"

    "We completely understand and are taking your feedback seriously... But we are doing it anyway because we also don't really care."

    I guess I'll just go f*** myself then. What failed logic and what an inexplicably dumb decision from Riot.

    dervishorc24/17/2017, 10:08:19 PM43 votes

    I don't think taking away legacy is a fair deal. Why do you have to take away the old one :( item 3070

    Manbadger4/17/2017, 10:16:34 PM41 votes

    I tried using the new client and I couldn't even play the game. Ended up uninstalling the newer client and reinstalling the old one just so I could play the damn game without lagging and disconnecting in champion select.. Looks as if April 24 will be my full retirement from League of Legends. R.I.P

    ZealHozi4/17/2017, 7:31:14 PM38 votes

    well looks like no more lol for me haha. looks like imma be playing my ps4 thats gathering dust. please keep the old client idk if i cant use features i just wanna play lol :( i dont care if i cant use champs maps or whatever i just want to play !!!!!!!

    Andermancer4/17/2017, 9:29:49 PM33 votes

    Why cant you guys just update the software but use the same legacy client look?... or maybe you can choose what look you want to go with... maybe some kind of client skin system. Because right now I absolutely hate the look of the new client. Reply same to this post if you are with me!

    Tartaruga Careca4/17/2017, 8:32:43 PM32 votes

    the new client takes one minute with a black screen until i can pick my champ in ranked so i always lose ip and get low priority queue leave the old one much better please

    PlaningLife4/17/2017, 11:51:17 PM30 votes

    The Worst update RIOT has ever put out ever!!!!

    einxenon4/17/2017, 11:42:30 PM28 votes

    The new client is complete garbage. It's always a hassle to find my loot or champions at times. It is extremely laggy and I've been black screened about 2 times, being demoted because of this client. Terrible decision by riot.

    Unlock The Noc4/18/2017, 12:33:33 AM24 votes

    I understand why Riot wants to push out their new client but I wish they would actually complete most of the big requests from players before they release it, or at least complete their to-do list on it.

    EN3RGYY4/17/2017, 10:00:49 PM22 votes

    Sigh, again another game that updates into a more lagged clients for the uses of a few features. Watch the numbers drop for this game because some computers simply can't run this as fast, or have a 3 second delay. Oh well, as long as the streamers get a better experience!