Riot Games unveiled a teaser video for 'League of Legends' (LoL)'s new client, 'New Dawn,' on the 15th during the 2026 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) Finals. Further details on New Dawn are scheduled to be released in January 2027. Along with the client, the appearance of Summoner's Rift and its gameplay will also change.
The video featured Andrei van Roon, Head of LoL Studio at Riot Games, and Paul Bellezza, Executive Producer. They are known to players by their nicknames 'Meddler' and 'Pabro,' respectively. Van Roon noted that they had previously teased a major update spanning the client, Summoner's Rift gameplay, and the new player experience. He said they ended up fulfilling their promise to share more information between this year's MSI and Worlds right at the last minute.
Van Roon said, "We want LoL to stand the test of time and be a game that continues for a long time to come," adding, "There are a lot of things that need to be true to make that happen." Executive Producer Bellezza followed up by saying, "The client, for one, has to be better," and "Next year, we're releasing a modernized client."
It is not just the client that is changing. Van Roon explained, "The client alone isn't enough," adding that they will "visually revamp many aspects, overhaul Summoner's Rift, evolve gameplay, and add new ways to play and experience your favorite champions."
Bellezza emphasized, "This is just the beginning," adding, "A new era and a new journey for LoL begins." He added that whether players are long-time veterans or dedicated ranked competitors, everyone is part of this journey.
New Dawn is not a separate sequel. Because it is an update that transforms the visuals, playstyles, and mechanics of existing LoL, it differs from a brand-new title like 'LoL 2.' Riot Games previously stated in a developer update video last December that it would launch a massive update in 2027 following the 2026 season, encompassing a new client, a visual revamp of Summoner's Rift, and improvements to the new player experience.
Now in its 17th year since release, LoL is overhauling everything from the client players first encounter to its core stage, Summoner's Rift. Rather than releasing a sequel, Riot Games formalized its direction to maintain and evolve the existing game at the Worlds Finals, the biggest esports stage of the year.
