League of Legends Sticks with Custom Hextech Engine for 'League Next'

Despite the recent announcement that Teamfight Tactics is migrating to Unreal Engine, Riot Games has confirmed that League of Legends will not be following suit. Andrei 'Meddler' van Roon, the Head of League Studio, clarified that the team is instead doubling down on its own technology to power the future of the MOBA.

"With League we're investing further in the custom game engine League uses, since that's been tailored for MOBA gameplay specifically and fits League's needs really well," Meddler wrote on X. The move comes as the studio prepares for a significant project known as League Next, which aims to modernize the experience for both veteran players and newcomers.

The Future of the League Client

While the game engine itself isn't changing, the League of Legends client is getting a major technical overhaul. Currently, the game utilizes the Hextech Engine for matches, but relies on separate systems for what Meddler refers to as "around game stuff."

With League Next, Riot is moving everything into the Hextech Engine. According to Meddler, this consolidation is intended to create a more seamless experience and resolve many of the technical challenges that have affected the client over the years.

Summoner's Rift Visuals and Updates

Beyond the engine and client changes, League Next is shaping up to be more than a typical seasonal update. Executive Producer Paul 'Pabro' Bellezza has previously indicated that Riot plans to revamp Summoner's Rift with entirely new visuals and adjustments to gameplay. The studio is also focusing on a restructured new player experience, which Bellezza claims will make this "the best time ever to get your friends into League."

Fans looking for a first look at these changes will have to wait until after the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), which concludes on July 12. Meddler noted that the team intentionally delayed the reveal to coincide with the 2026 World Championship, citing the increased visibility the tournament provides.

"At the start of the year we weren't certain exactly which month that would be in; at this point we've decided Worlds is likely the best place to do so," Meddler explained. League of Legends Worlds 2026 is scheduled to begin with play-ins on October 15, with the grand final taking place on November 14.