League of Legends Archives

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

5 Best Free-To-Play Games Of 2026 (So Far)

The gaming landscape of 2026 features a variety of free-to-play titles catering to diverse tastes. Notable games include: - Escape Up: A side-scrolling platformer where players eliminate enemies to ascend a tower, refining the platforming experience for modern audiences. - 2XKO: A 2v2 fighting game from the "League of Legends" universe, released in January 2026, featuring fast-paced brawls and a revenue model based on in-game cosmetics and battle passes. - Neverness to Everness: A third-person action RPG developed by Hotta Studio, available on mobile, PC, and PlayStation 5, allowing players to switch between heroes with unique abilities in a fantasy open world. - Skillwood: A lo-fi life simulator where players act as a lumberjack, chopping trees and mining resources, developed by sshulin and available on Steam and itch.io. - Forward Assault: An indie first-person shooter inspired by "Counter-Strike," featuring tactical gameplay and accessible mechanics for mobile and PC players.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

Dawn of War 2’s The Last Stand mode is still the best co-op MOBA that never was

Comp stomp is a cooperative gaming mode where players team up against AI opponents, but it often lacks genuine strategy due to the AI's limitations. The Last Stand from Dawn of War 2, launched in 2009, offers an alternative experience by placing players in a scenario with a single commander unit facing waves of aliens. Although the standalone version on Steam is no longer available, it can be accessed through the Dawn of War 2: Anniversary Edition. The Last Stand simplifies gameplay by removing traditional base-building and research, focusing on tactical skirmishes. Players can unlock various wargear that alters their playstyle, allowing for diverse strategies. The mode features a variety of playable factions, each with unique heroes and abilities. Despite newer titles, The Last Stand remains popular for its engaging gameplay. Fans are eager to see how it will be integrated into the upcoming Dawn of War 4.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

PC Game Pass: Rethink buying games

PC Game Pass from XBOX offers access to over 500 high-quality PC games for a monthly fee of .90. It includes new releases available on launch day, classic AAA titles, and indie games, allowing players to explore various genres without the need for an XBOX console. Gamers can download and play multiple titles simultaneously, with no restrictions on installations. The library features popular games like Forza Horizon 6, EA SPORTS FC 26, Age of Empires IV, and Minecraft. PC Game Pass is part of a tiered subscription model, with trial promotions available for the first 14 days. Game Pass Ultimate offers additional benefits, including access to Ubisoft+ Classics and online multiplayer features.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

League of Legends Classic is real: “This was the right time”

League of Legends Classic has been announced earlier than planned due to a leak on the Public Beta Environment (PBE). Executive Producer Paul "Pabro" Bellezza and Head of League Studio Andrei "Meddler" van Roon discussed the excitement surrounding the nostalgic return of the game, which aims to evoke memories of its simpler early days. The initial plan was to reveal the teaser video before the MSI Finals on July 12, but the leak prompted an earlier announcement. The game will feature a roster that extends beyond the original 40 champions, including a return of Graves, and will incorporate old-style Runes and the Summoner Mastery system, though details are not finalized. League Classic will operate within the same client and utilize modern technology while adhering to 2026 system requirements. The full reveal is scheduled for July 11 at 11 PM PDT, with further insights expected at Worlds in October.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

Riot delays ‘last hit indicators’ in League of Legends ranked mode after fan response: ‘We want to get more data and feedback’

Riot Games is introducing last hit indicators in League of Legends to assist new players in mastering the last hitting technique, which is crucial for earning gold. These indicators will visually show when a creep is about to die, making it easier for players to secure kills. Currently, this feature is limited to casual modes, but it is set to be introduced to normal draft and ranked play. Community responses are mixed, with some players expressing skepticism about its impact on skill levels, while others see it as a way to lower barriers for entry without affecting overall gameplay. Riot Games plans to gather more data and feedback before deciding on the feature's integration into ranked play.

AppWizard

June 27, 2026

Riot teases League of Legends Classic, with a full reveal coming in two weeks

Riot Games has confirmed the existence of League of Legends Classic after low-poly character models were leaked from public test servers. The announcement was made by executive producer Paul "Pabro" Bellezza in a skit titled "200 Years of Experience." A full reveal of the Classic mode is scheduled for July 11 during the MSI Finals. The video description suggests that the Classic mode may evolve over time, raising questions about the use of original currencies, the potential return of the Twisted Treeline 3v3 map, and the fate of old rune pages and quintessences. The announcement taps into nostalgia for the game's earlier versions, which had different mechanics and visuals compared to the current game. A previous fan-made server called Chronoshift was shut down by Riot, who indicated that a retro version was forthcoming.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Riot Vanguard finally drops its controversial always-on requirement for anti-cheat — new on-demand mode requires a strict Windows 11 security stack

Riot Games has introduced a new feature for its Vanguard anti-cheat system called Vanguard On-Demand, which allows the kernel driver to load only when a Riot game is launched and unload upon exit. This change ends the previous practice of loading the driver at Windows start-up, which has been in place since 2020. The new mode is supported by Windows 11 25H2 and requires specific hardware configurations, including UEFI Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), and IOMMU. Approximately 35% of players currently meet these hardware requirements, while around 3% are using incompatible systems. Riot has created a checklist called Vanguard Pre-Check to help players determine if their systems qualify. The percentage of fully secured machines is estimated to be around 34.33% and is increasing monthly. Players whose systems do not meet the criteria will need to make manual adjustments in their BIOS. Vanguard On-Demand mode will be available for players on Windows 11 starting later today. The feature is based on Microsoft’s Runtime Driver Attestation Report, which tracks driver activity since boot and helps ensure no vulnerable drivers have been loaded while Vanguard is inactive. Riot Games has required TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on Windows 11 since 2020 and has faced criticism for these requirements. Enabling VBS and HVCI may affect frame rates and could disable older peripheral drivers due to Microsoft's vulnerable driver blocklist.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

You can finally turn Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat off when you’re not playing a game

Riot Games is updating its Vanguard anti-cheat system to an "on-demand" model, which will only activate during gameplay and stop once the game ends. This change addresses concerns over Vanguard's previous persistent background operation and kernel mode access. Players must meet specific security criteria to use the new feature, including enabling pre-boot security mechanisms and Windows' native protection features. Approximately 35% of players already meet these conditions, while 3% using older hardware will not have access to the on-demand option until they upgrade. Vanguard will continue its current operation for those unable to meet the requirements. The update is influenced by advancements in Windows and PC hardware security and aims to enhance anti-cheat measures while keeping the process optional for most players.

Winsage

June 2, 2026

Microsoft, Nvidia launch RTX Spark Windows AI PC lineup

Microsoft and Nvidia have launched a new series of Windows PCs powered by the Nvidia RTX Spark platform, featuring devices from manufacturers like Surface, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. The RTX Spark platform delivers up to 1 petaflop of AI performance, with up to 20 Arm-based CPU cores, 6,144 Blackwell RTX cores, and 128GB of unified memory. Microsoft has optimized Windows for this architecture, enhancing scheduling, power management, and memory handling. The new workload profile scheduling feature optimizes task distribution across the cores, while the Microsoft Power and Thermal Framework improves performance, battery life, and heat management. Windows' support for unified memory has been enhanced, allowing for larger AI models and demanding creative tasks. Microsoft's Prism emulator for x86 applications has been optimized for RTX Spark systems, improving compatibility and speed. Creative applications like Blender, DaVinci Resolve, and Adobe Photoshop are supported, along with MATLAB for technical users. Gaming support includes native anti-cheat software and compatibility with popular titles such as League of Legends and Valorant. The new systems are categorized under Microsoft's Copilot+ PC line, which combines AI processing with enhanced graphics capabilities. Devices showcased include Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra and models from Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI. Microsoft also plans to scale Windows to the Nvidia DGX Station for Windows, enabling larger AI models and workstation-class workloads. The initiative aims to unify AI workloads across consumer PCs, creator laptops, and workstations, allowing users to run larger models locally and integrate AI computing into their workflows.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

The League of Legends MMO adds another World of Warcraft vet to its team

Brian Holinka, a former lead combat designer for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment, has joined Riot Games as a principal game designer for the League of Legends MMO. His appointment was announced on LinkedIn, marking his first official day at Riot. The League of Legends MMO project has been under development since its announcement in December 2020, and Riot has also hired Raymond Bartos, a former lead producer for World of Warcraft, and Orlando Salvatore, a former lead software engineer from World of Warcraft, to enhance the development team. Greg Street, the former vice president of Riot Games who initially led the MMO project, has taken on a new role in the gaming industry that does not involve an MMO.