@Riot - Low Volume of Skin releases...

Blainezy·Feb 24, 2016·5 votes·4,937 views

It seems that within the last few patches there have been limited number of skins. Challenger Nidalee alone, Ori+Sona, Kennen+Yasuo... Now, since Hextech Annie isn't going to ship with Hextech crafting, probably only Elderwood LB and MAYBE Annie for this next patch...

Is there any particular reason for the low amount of skins being cranked out? It seems like last year it was a constant 3+ skins per patch. I'm not complaining too much, because Elderwood LB looks GREAT, but was just wondering if there was any certain reason?

32 Comments

RiotmoonstonesFeb 24, 201610 votes

Our goal isn't to make as many skins as possible just to say we made a skin for every champion, or pumped out x number of skins in a year. In fact, we don't have an exact number of skins we want/need to make.

Instead, we focus on what cool thematics we could create, and which champions would work well to be part of the thematic.

We would rather create quality skins that make sense and are something you guys enjoy, rather than just putting out a skin to say x champion has a new skin 'cause they haven't had one in two years.

So, we're looking to make more badass skins with cool particles and sounds and other bells and whistles, but that may mean a few less skins than the prior year.

Jeddy017Feb 24, 20162 votes

In other words,less 750 skins & more 975 or higher skins,but less skins overall.

BlainezyFeb 24, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KEE04L7E,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-02-24T20:19:11.654+0000)

Our goal isn't to make as many skins as possible just to say we made a skin for every champion, or pumped out x number of skins in a year. In fact, we don't have an exact number of skins we want/need to make.

Instead, we focus on what cool thematics we could create, and which champions would work well to be part of the thematic.

We would rather create quality skins that make sense and are something you guys enjoy, rather than just putting out a skin to say x champion has a new skin 'cause they haven't had one in two years.

So, we're looking to make more badass skins with cool particles and sounds and other bells and whistles, but that may mean a few less skins than the prior year.

Works for me. I am super excited about this LB skin! She needed it! She doesn't have much in the way of cool skins. Ravenborn LB is the closest thing she has and thats over a year old now. Also, super glad the Elderwood Skin has continued with one of my favorite mid laners! Zyra next please! :)

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20162 votes

We thought so, too! We took into consideration that her only skin with particle changes was Ravenborn, and she's legacy, and not available all year, which isn't the best for players who missed that time frame.

Also, once Zyra is done with her Mage Roster Update, we can definitely start talking about a new skin for her. +1 for Elderwood! ^-^

FlemmanFeb 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KEE04L7E,comment-id=000000010000,timestamp=2016-02-25T17:32:42.231+0000)

Also, once Zyra is done with her Mage Roster Update, we can definitely start talking about a new skin for her. +1 for Elderwood! ^-^

Nah, elderwood zyra is too similar to her classic model, skin are here for fantasy stuff, make her water theme or mechanical theme before a plantie thing^^

BlainezyFeb 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KEE04L7E,comment-id=000000010000,timestamp=2016-02-25T17:32:42.231+0000)

We thought so, too! We took into consideration that her only skin with particle changes was Ravenborn, and she's legacy, and not available all year, which isn't the best for players who missed that time frame.

Also, once Zyra is done with her Mage Roster Update, we can definitely start talking about a new skin for her. +1 for Elderwood! ^-^

Oh and today's update reminded me... Death Blossom Zyra also :) Kthx.

jeremiahBIOFeb 24, 20166 votes

I gotta say, amazing work on that Annie skin. when it is finally released all my gemstones are going towards it. My only gripe with it is her eyes aren't glowing blue like the SA but im just nit-picking.

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20162 votes

Glad you're a fan! I'd be happy to pass along your feedback. ^-^

jeremiahBIOFeb 26, 20161 votes

Please do. the glowing eyes would be the icing on the cake. like what they did for cosmic reaver Kassadin

Photos of GhostsFeb 25, 20161 votes

I actually prefer having the least possible number of glowy eyes, because biology. I'm ok with Morde having glowy eyes - but not Panth or Volibear.

NefasFeb 25, 20162 votes

I have heard this line before and I never fail it to hate it. There is a world of space between creating quality skins and creating skins for champs on a time table.

There are lots of cool concepts for every champion. ~~Even~~ Especially the ones who haven't had a skin in nearly 4 years. Champs that haven't had a skin that long deserve for you to drop whatever "thematic" concept group you are working on and give them a skin. A good (read: not 750 RP) new Gallio or Swain or Talon skin is worth more than some new entourage of whatever group of champs who already have plenty of skins and have gotten them much more recently.

RowanEndFeb 25, 20162 votes

I'm honestly fine with this just as long as you balance the time in between champions getting skins. There are champions who haven't gotten a skin in 2+ years and there are some champions who have gotten 2 in less than a year.

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20161 votes

We've been working to give champions who haven't had a skin in a while, but it does take time. Some champions we've hit in the last year who haven't had a skin in a long time were Fiora, Yi, Akali, Galio, and Kennen this year.

Some champions, such as Yorick, aren't able to receive a skin until they receive an update, same as Taric. So, we have some limitations for some champions.

That said, champions who have gone through the champion update - like Sion and Poppy - are now able to get a skin and are on our radar.

We do keep track of the time since a champion last received a skin, as well as what they have in their existing skins catalog.

FlemmanFeb 25, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KEE04L7E,comment-id=000000040000,timestamp=2016-02-25T17:26:48.546+0000)

We've been working to give champions who haven't had a skin in a while, but it does take time. Some champions we've hit in the last year who haven't had a skin in a long time were Fiora, Yi, Akali, Galio, and Kennen this year.

with these 5, galio is the poor kid. He only got a pretty meh 750 skin while the other got really cool stuff (probably rig related), hope we saw a 975 tier skin for him this year too

GreenLoreFeb 25, 20161 votes

Welp they said that galio is likely to get a VGU as well,so I guess that was his last skin for a while(also i think they made the skin cheap,because they knew they would have to update his abilities,so giving him a skin with new effects made little sense,since they'd have to redo them later on).

patmax17Feb 25, 20161 votes

i guess you meant "like sion and Poppy"? ;)

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20164 votes

Haha, oops! Yes, that! Edited.

I'm only halfway through my coffee. @__@

RalanrFeb 25, 20161 votes

I hope Sion is soon.

PrimeWraithFeb 25, 20161 votes

pulsefire ezreal re-work?

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20162 votes

Not something that's planned at this time.

PrimeWraithFeb 25, 20161 votes

well ty riot for giving me pulsefire from 790rp mystery chest. guess i cant really complain since i saved lot of money

Von RevanchistFeb 25, 20161 votes

You know the last 2 patches as well as this one have been really light on content. You people at riot could of implemented at least one visually updated champion in each ya'll have the resources don't know why it isn't done. It's unacceptable to have champions like Amumu or Jax standing next to the likes of Azir

or lore??? hello update ya'lls game

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20162 votes

Keep in mind that we do have several teams, and each works on a different aspect of skins/champions.

In the cases you've mentioned - Amumu and Jax would fall into Champion Update. They've currently got their hands full with the Mage Roster Update, Taric, as well as Yorick. They're definitely working hard to update a bunch of champions, but, we aren't able to do all of them at once.

Also keep in mind that while patches may be light sometimes, it doesn't mean we don't have a lot of other content in the works.

ModAcademy KaynFeb 25, 20161 votes

Then are these the only skins to come out this patch? Or will there be a few late released ones tomorrow/later?

RiotmoonstonesFeb 25, 20162 votes

Check the PBE! :D Death Blossom Kha'Zix just came out!

ModAcademy KaynFeb 26, 20161 votes

That is a new degree of pretty seen on a Killer Bug. I might actually try Kha'Zix for it XD

GunpointFeb 26, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot KateyKhaos,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KEE04L7E,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-02-24T20:19:11.654+0000)

Our goal isn't to make as many skins as possible just to say we made a skin for every champion, or pumped out x number of skins in a year. In fact, we don't have an exact number of skins we want/need to make.

Instead, we focus on what cool thematics we could create, and which champions would work well to be part of the thematic.

We would rather create quality skins that make sense and are something you guys enjoy, rather than just putting out a skin to say x champion has a new skin 'cause they haven't had one in two years.

So, we're looking to make more badass skins with cool particles and sounds and other bells and whistles, but that may mean a few less skins than the prior year.

Glad you changed your philosophy since Pickpocket Twitch and his arrow-shooting revolver.

BrutusnessFeb 24, 20162 votes

Just PLEASE try and get one out for Swain this year. There are so many ideas: Void Swain, Wizard Swain, Secret Agent Swain, Arclight Swain, Count Swain, etc. I don't even care about Dragon Master, there are so many amazing possibilities that haven't been used.

NeoBrawlerFeb 24, 20162 votes

Probably because the skins that came out recently are not for champs that get played. The beast hunters were released but I rarely see the champs they are for as it is so the skins go unnoticed.

BlainezyFeb 24, 20161 votes

I agree Neo. That probably is the big problem. Especially Challenger Nidalee. No one even plays Nidalee much anymore, maybe high elo, but they don't use skins often. The Beast Hunter skins are for champs no one plays, especially Sej because she's useless right now... Sona is rarely played and Ori is only good in specific team comps.. At least they are decent looking though.