COSM-GAME
League of Legends
League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena developed and published by Riot Games, available on PC and Mac. Players select one of over 160 champions and compete in structured 5v5 team matches, each working together to push through lanes, neutralize objectives, and destroy the opposing team's Nexus before it destroys theirs. Progression is built around in-match gold and experience, used to purchase items and level up abilities throughout each game, with no persistent champion power carrying between sessions. Its defining gameplay centers on a deep champion roster paired with constant balance updates that keep the competitive meta in regular motion.
Game summary
On this page
Latest update
Patch 26.16, released August 11, 2026, delivers champion and system changes alongside the launch of the Faerie Court 2026 skin line. Key adjustments target bot lane balance: support role quest progress is penalized more heavily for early roaming, mage dominance in the bot lane is pulled back, and ADC champions receive a base magic resistance increase to improve early durability against mages. AD fighter itemization is reshuffled, with Sundered Sky receiving healing nerfs and item cost changes, while Eclipse and Black Cleaver are buffed. Jungle pets gain improved AP and defensive scaling to encourage AP and tank junglers. The Faerie Court skin line adds Faerie Court Bel'Veth, Faerie Court Gwen, and Faerie Court Lulu. Patch 26.16 is also the first balance patch for League Classic after the introduction of Akali, Kennen, and Shen in Classic mode, with tuning for Blitzcrank, Tryndamere, and Warwick as the strongest outliers.
Release date and status
League of Legends launched on October 27, 2009, for PC. The Mac client was added in 2013. The game has been in continuous active development since launch, receiving biweekly patches throughout each year. The 2026 cycle is the game's second year under the modern Thematic Seasonal model, structured into three named seasons with their own ranked splits and thematic content. The 2026 competitive year began January 8, 2026, with Season 1 themed around For Demacia. Season 2 (Pandemonium) and Season 3 (Classic, launched July 28, 2026) followed. Patch 26.16 is the current live patch as of August 2026, with Patch 26.17 in PBE testing.
| Global release | Oct 27, 2009 |
| Original launch platforms | |
| Global status | Released |
| Pricing model | Free-to-play·In-app purchases |
| Availability | Availability details have not been confirmed. |
Platforms and availability
League of Legends is available on PC (Windows) and Mac (macOS). It is not available on consoles or Linux. Steam Deck is explicitly unsupported, as Riot does not support Linux or SteamOS. The game is downloaded through the official Riot Client from the official site or through the Epic Games Store, both of which install the Riot Client as the unified launcher. All Riot titles, including League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, VALORANT, and Legends of Runeterra, run through a single Riot Games account and the same client. The game is available worldwide, with regional servers and localization for numerous languages.
Gameplay and setting
League of Legends is a team-based 5v5 MOBA built around a single core map, Summoner's Rift. Each team of five players selects a champion before the match begins and works from their base toward the enemy Nexus, passing through three lanes connected by jungle. Minion waves spawn and march each lane automatically, generating pressure and gold. The five in-game roles are top lane, jungle, mid lane, bot lane (carry), and support, each shaping a player's champion choices and in-game responsibilities. Champions gain gold and experience throughout the match, spending gold on items that power up their kits and using experience to level up their abilities. The team that destroys the enemy Nexus wins the match.
Strategic objectives shape the midgame. Dragon spawns in the river provide stacking elemental buffs. Baron Nashor, spawning at 20 minutes, empowers a team's minions when slain. Rift Herald, active in the early game, can be used to crack towers. Towers and inhibitors must be taken sequentially to open a path to the Nexus.
The champion roster exceeds 160 playable characters, organized into class categories: Assassins, Fighters, Mages, Marksmen, Supports, and Tanks. Champions are unlocked through Blue Essence (earned by playing) or purchased with Riot Points. Cosmetic skins modify champion appearances and animations without affecting gameplay stats.
Additional permanent modes in 2026 include ARAM (All Random All Mid), a single-lane 5v5 mode using random champions; ARAM: Mayhem, an augment-modified version; and Arena, a 2v2v2v2 round-based deathmatch mode with augments. League Classic is a 2026 featured game mode that recreates the game's early 2012-era ruleset, items, and champion versions.
Trailer, screenshots, and media
The trailer is the official 2026 Season 1 cinematic "For Demacia," released January 7, 2026, showcasing Demacian champions and setting the narrative theme for the year. The gallery includes Patch 26.16 official key art featuring the Faerie Court skin line.
Developer and publisher
League of Legends is developed and published by Riot Games, headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2006, Riot Games released League of Legends in 2009 and has maintained it as its flagship title. Riot Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tencent, acquired in 2011. The studio has since expanded to develop VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and the animated series Arcane. The League of Legends team operates on a biweekly patch cadence and manages the game's global competitive ecosystem, including the World Championship.
| Developer | Riot Games |
| Publisher | Riot Games |
| Official website | League of Legends |
Download and availability
League of Legends is free to download and play on PC and Mac. The game is accessed through the Riot Client, the unified launcher for all Riot Games titles, available at leagueoflegends.com. It can also be downloaded through the Epic Games Store, which installs the Riot Client automatically. A free Riot Games account is required to play. No subscription is required. In-game purchases use Riot Points (RP), bought with real money, and Blue Essence (BE), earned through gameplay. The game is not available on Steam, Battle.net, or any other third-party launcher beyond the Epic Games Store.
System / Device Requirements
Riot Games publishes official minimum and recommended specifications for both Windows and macOS. Windows users must have TPM 2.0 enabled, as it is required by Riot Vanguard, the game's anti-cheat system.
Note: Riot Games states that minimum specs are subject to change and they aim to announce updates several months in advance. Apple Silicon (M1 and later) Macs run the game via Rosetta 2, as no native ARM build is available. Linux and Steam Deck are not supported platforms.
| PC specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 (Build 19041+) or Windows 11, TPM 2.0 required | Windows 11, TPM 2.0 required |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-530 or AMD A6-3650 | Intel Core i5-8250 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce 400 Series or AMD Radeon HD 6570 (DirectX 11) | Nvidia GeForce 560 or AMD Radeon HD 6950 |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB HDD | 16 GB SSD |
| Mac specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS 10.15 (Catalina) | macOS 11 (Big Sur) |
| CPU / Chip | Intel Core i5-750 or Apple M1 | Intel Core i5-3300 or Apple M1 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| GPU | Metal-compatible GPU (MTLGPUFamilyCommon2 or newer) | AMD Radeon HD 6950 or Intel UHD 630 |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage | 12 GB HDD | 16 GB SSD |