Illustration redesigned by Devin Thorpe
Gamers all over the world are wishing a Happy Birthday to Riot Games this week as their primary (and let’s face it only) gaming offering, League of Legends, turns 10. Officially, the game turned 10 on October 27th but the celebration is still in full swing as fanfare greets players on Summoner’s Rift, daily gifts are awarded (don’t worry, they aren’t all icons), people play the original URF, and Baron Nashor dons a party hat.
Over the last 10 years Riot Games has continually reinvented League to stay relevant and fresh in a highly competitive market and they’ve come along way. These changes have included visual updates, alterations to gameplay mechanics, new champions, items, modes, and maps, and about 200 Ryze reworks. And about those new champions? It’s not just a handful. They had 40 champions upon release, and now there are 145 champions strong with one more due to come out before the end of the year.