League of Legends Archives

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

PC gaming is growing, but it isn’t because of Dota 2 and Fortnite

The gaming industry is undergoing significant transformation, with a notable shift in revenue dynamics. According to Newzoo's 2026 report, PC gaming is expected to surpass console gaming by 2028, driven by lucrative titles like League of Legends and World of Warcraft. In 2025, 56% of PC gaming revenue will come from games outside the top 20, highlighting the growing importance of non-top titles. Total playtime in PC gaming has increased by 14% from 2022 to 2025, with non-top 20 games seeing a 44% rise in engagement. Player preferences are leaning towards RPGs and adventure games, while first-person shooters remain popular on Xbox despite some genre fatigue. The gaming industry is characterized by cyclical trends, indicating that while certain genres may decline temporarily, they are not obsolete.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

There’s a dog that can play League of Legends better than you

Pea, a small, brown, long-haired sausage dog, is a streamer and aspiring professional League of Legends player under the guidance of her owner, PooperNoodle. Pea has been learning to support in the game using programmed buttons to activate her in-game abilities, currently mastering the champion Yuumi. During her initial stream, she transitioned from a spectator to an active participant, successfully using her abilities with surprising finesse. Pea's current record in Swiftplay is two wins and three losses. The response to her gameplay has been positive, with the official League of Legends TikTok account humorously acknowledging her presence. Pea's journey highlights the joy and camaraderie that gaming can offer.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

League of Legends lead Phroxzon says “frustrating” counters like Mel are part of the MOBA’s “secret sauce”

Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison, lead gameplay designer for League of Legends, engaged with a group of 20 players to discuss champion balance, focusing on Mel, whose abilities can disrupt opponents. He described Mel as "a balanced champion," though players expressed frustration over her matchups. Phroxzon acknowledged that there are moments where Mel can feel overwhelmingly powerful and emphasized the importance of diverse gameplay experiences. He noted that navigating difficult matchups is integral to the game and encouraged players to develop strategies against challenging champions. He also discussed the concept of 'loser's queue' and the psychological aspects of player perceptions in competitive environments. Additionally, he addressed the balance between introducing changes through patches and maintaining game stability, suggesting that new champion releases contribute to player growth and understanding. Riot Games is committed to evaluating champion dynamics and player experiences in the evolving landscape of League of Legends.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

New DBD patch notes finally take aim at its troublesome stacking modifiers

Power creep has affected various online multiplayer games, including Dead by Daylight, where new Killers and Survivors have introduced complex gameplay mechanics and balance issues due to infinite stacking of in-game modifiers. The latest patch introduces the Diminishing Returns system, which modifies how gameplay modifiers and status effects interact during a Trial, applying a decay effect over time. The most effective modifier will provide a full bonus, while subsequent modifiers will yield reduced bonuses: the second will yield 50%, the third 25%, the fourth 12.5%, and any additional effects will contribute only 5%. Item addons remain unaffected by this system. This change aims to normalize modifier interactions, preserve game integrity, and facilitate the introduction of new powers, items, and perks. The Diminishing Returns system is currently live on the Dead by Daylight Public Test Build, alongside other updates such as color customization for auras and various buffs and nerfs for Killers and their addons. The update is part of Behaviour Interactive's ongoing efforts to refine Dead by Daylight's core systems, focusing on balancing gameplay while addressing player concerns.

AppWizard

April 8, 2026

‘Everybody should play every fighting game’ says Invincible VS director: ‘They’re just fun’

The recent launch of the fighting game 2XKO resulted in the layoff of 80 developers shortly after its debut. This year has seen several new fighting game titles, including Marvel Tōkon and licensed games Avatar Legends and Invincible VS. Invincible VS, developed by a team with experience from Killer Instinct, features a dynamic tag team experience and aims to capture the essence of multi-character battles from its animated source material. The game is part of a series of releases scheduled over ten months, with a focus on community feedback and ongoing playtesting. Developers are also hinting at a single-player mode involving contributions from the show's writers.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

Age of Empires esports is very much alive, as London Wololo beats AO2 and 4 records

Wololo: Londinium, held from April 1 to April 6, showcased competition in Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires 4, featuring a prize pool of 0,000 and attracting thousands of fans at the Royal Albert Hall. Hamzah 'Hera' El-Baher won the AoE 2 crown, while Alexis 'MarineLorD' Eusebio defeated Daniel 'Wam01' Svoboda. The event peaked at 109,748 viewers and accumulated 1,470,424 hours of watch time, making it the most-watched esports event for Age of Empires 2. It surpassed the previous viewer record of 85,848 from Wololo: El Reinado and set a new peak for Age of Empires 4 with MarineLorD's match attracting 66,705 viewers.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

Pragmata’s stellar combat proves multitasking can actually be fun

Multitasking is integral to the gameplay of Capcom's Pragmata, where players control Hugh and his AI companion Diana while engaging in combat against robots. Players must aim and fire at enemies while simultaneously completing hacking mini-games that enhance damage output. The game features a variety of weapons, including assault rifles, electrified guns, and shotguns, which players can pick up and use throughout their journey. The hacking mechanics evolve as players progress, introducing new challenges and skills. The fast-paced combat and dynamic interactions between Hugh and Diana create an engaging experience, although the narrative and world-building remain partially unexplored.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Logitech G Study shows Esports enters its prime

A comprehensive study from Logitech G surveyed 18,000 individuals across 12 countries, revealing that nearly 8% of respondents globally would choose to pursue a career as a professional gamer if given the opportunity, surpassing traditional professions like politician (6%) and professional racer (5%). Among Generation Z, the desire to become a pro gamer rises to 15%. Two-thirds of Gen Z see esports as a legitimate professional career path, with 54% of all respondents considering esports a legitimate professional avenue. The global esports audience reached 611 million in 2024, projected to grow to 641 million by the end of 2025, with the industry valued at .1 billion and expected to reach .5 billion by 2030. Nearly half of Gen Z support adding esports to the Olympic Games, while 49% of Gen Z favor including esports in the main Olympics, compared to 21% of Baby Boomers. The 2024 League of Legends World Final attracted a peak global audience of 50 million, and over 62,000 spectators attended the 2025 Honor of Kings KPL Grand Finals in Beijing. Concerns about financial risk (42%), high competition levels (34%), and lack of support (31%) deter many from pursuing esports careers.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

In a world of serious videogames, the Valheim devs’ new co-op dungeon crawler is a reminder that having fun is okay

Begraved is a co-op game developed by Grip Jaw, a team of former Valheim members, blending cozy and horror elements in a genre they call 'friendslop.' Players explore dungeons, collect treasures, and interact with a customizable hideout that serves as a social hub. The game features a narrative framework encouraging player progression and ownership, with mechanics allowing for team revivals and ghost assistance. The demo includes a selfie camera for capturing moments, emphasizing fun and lighthearted gameplay. The demo is available for download after Steam Next Fest, although it is an early version that may contain bugs.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.