Game modes are back baby! Riot have finally learned what communication means and given fans hope that in 2023 they'll finally be playing a brand-new game mode for an event.
Rise and shine casual LoL players! We are getting a new game mode! For once this isn't just speculation, nor is it coming from a leaker or anything, but this is coming straight from Riot themselves as they try to appease the angry mob that is currently 99% of the LoL community.
The start of the 2023 season did not go the way Riot had planned, if we're being nice about it. The cinematic was not what people expected and the amount of information regarding new content was also lacking. So, the community was pissed and now Riot has to try and figure out how to calm them down.
New LoL Game Mode In Development
On Friday, January 13, 2023, Riot released a short statement video with both Riot Meddler, as well as, Riot Brightmoon talk about their lack of clarity, as well as why they have not been communicating with the community on a level most would expect them to.
They also explained why players have not gotten much new content in the last few years. 2022 was probably the most barren year of all when it came to new content, with the main event being another visual novel, something that had been repeated over-and-over by then, as well as no new game mode, even though Nexus Blitz had been promised to kick off the year.
A follow-up message from Riot Brightmoon and Riot Meddler on behalf of the League team.We know we failed to deliver some stuff that really matters to you folks. We want to share some thoughts and talk about how we're working to do better. pic.twitter.com/c59ojMWmkU
— League of Legends // UK, IE & Nordics (@LoLUKN) January 13, 2023
As had been previously stated by Reav3 on Reddit, a major part of the Game Modes team from Riot dispersed, either moving onto different teams – namely Teamfight Tactics – or moved on to other jobs at different companies. This meant that there was basically no modes team.
But, over the course of 2022, new members have joined the game modes team and have started working on new content. Due to the team being brand-new with new management, it had taken a while to get things going though, which is why in 2022 we only received the update to ARAM.
Riot does have some new plans for 2023 though, with Riot Meddler and Brightmoon explaining that the team has been testing a brand-new game mode which will pit eight players against one another in a 2v2v2v2 mode.
They didn't expand further on the new game mode, but on Reddit Riot Meddler did explain that this mode would be a part of the big summer event Riot has planned this year – this time without a visual novel – and that while the team isn't ready yet for a huge event like Odyssey was, they are ramping up to get events back to such a level.
So, it looks like 2023 could be shaping up to be a better year already, at least for casual League of Legends players who want more than just skins in a shop as an event. Now Riot will just have to deliver on these promises made to truly convince the community.