Everyone has a fighting chance
Riot Games has posted a new blog to lay out details of a new game mode called Nexus Blitz. Nexus Blitz will be part of the new Experimental Modes program that will see various new ways to play crop up a couple times per year. Experimental Modes program allows players to test new ways to play and allows devs a chance to “aggressively patch” before bringing it into the full game.
For all of us that have been breathlessly speculating about the possibility that Riot Games might be making an MMO, well, the joke’s on us. Turns out that the Twitter post sent out by Riot Co-Founder Marc Merrill is something of a joke. North American Communications Director Justin Kranzl told Variety, “He was being playful around the release of this world map and wants to encourage our players to think of what Riot’s long-term goals could look like.”
Riot Games Co-Founder Marc Merrill took to Twitter with an out-of-the-blue question to his followers: “Should we build a[n] MMO? Yay or nay?” Many presume it means an MMO based on League of Legends with the provided link to an interactive game map: “Explore the world ranging from the briny ports of Bilgewater to the soaring peaks of Mount Targon”.
Riot Games has announced that it is featuring a charity League of Legends skin will soon go on sale that will see 100% of the sales proceeds sent to “charities around the world”. The special Dark Star Cho’Gath skin will be on sale from June 21st to July 20th. The skin was designed by a League of Legends player as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
A lengthy blog post has been published on the League of Legends site that provides a first-look at some big changes coming in time for the 2019 competitive season and some tune-ups of the new player system. Most significantly, big changes are coming to ranked play.
Riot Games has unveiled the next Champion coming to League of Legends. She is Kai’Sa, Daughter of the Void. Her basic attacks mark enemies with Plasma that allow for increasingly hard-hitting magic damage bonuses. She also has an ability called “Living Weapon” that “evolves her abilities” based on permanent stats earned through shop items and experience level.
A professional League of Legends player, Kirill “Likkrit” Malofeyev, has retired after being banned by Riot Games for suggesting that teams in CiS nations are not “profitable” for players. His comments were made during a recent live stream and included accusations of unpaid salaries and the inability for teams to go to court for enforcement due to contracts not being recognized as legal, according to Kotaku. Court costs would exceed missing salaries, according to Malofeyev.
League of Legends players can now head into the game to take part in Snowdown 2017, a themed event that brings Naughty & Nice missions to the game as well as new skins, Snowdown capsules, holiday emotes, icons and gifting to the game. Lastly, a new game mode is included called “Snow Battle Arurf”.
Zoe is the newest hero launching into League of Legends with the 7.23 update. She’s a mage that uses burst magic to take down enemies as well as salvaging an opponent’s own spells to use against them. With abilities like “More Sparkles” and “Sleepy Trouble Bubble”, it’s easy to see that Zoe is a perky little thing.
Team Liquid has sad news for esports fans around the world. The team’s Twitter was updated to announce that the League of Legends head coach and long-time esports veteran Dennis “InternetHulk” Hawelka has passed away. According to the post, Hawelka, 30, passed away due to complications stemming from tonsillitis.