In a recent official blog post, Riot Games, the renowned developer behind League of Legends, has unveiled its plans to revamp the game's Ranked system. Titled "What's Next for Ranked," the article highlights the modifications made thus far and provides a glimpse into the future direction of competitive gameplay. With a focus on enhancing player experience and maintaining ladder integrity, these changes aim to create a more balanced and rewarding environment for all summoners.

Riot Games to Introduce Ranked Changes in League of Legends

One of the notable alterations mentioned in the post is the adjustment to promotion series. Riot Games acknowledges the desire for quicker resolution in these series, and as a result, they have transitioned from a best-of-five format to a best-of-three. Going forward, they plan to explore the possibility of resolving promotion series even faster, potentially making them instantaneous. By streamlining this aspect, players can progress through the ranks with increased efficiency.

Another change involves the removal of visible rank influence in matchmaking. While this decision was initially aimed at improving the returning player experience, it inadvertently led to an increase in the presence of smurf accounts. Riot Games acknowledges the negative impact of smurfing on regular games and expresses their commitment to addressing this issue effectively. Balancing the returning player experience with fair matchmaking remains a priority for the development team.

The introduction of the Victorious Skin and the New Rewards Track has brought additional excitement to the Ranked system. While the official assessment of these additions is yet to be determined, the provision of more free rewards is an encouraging step towards player gratification. In a surprising announcement, Riot Games revealed that the Victorious Skin for Season 2023 - Split 1 will be none other than Victorious Anivia, further igniting anticipation among the League of Legends community.

Regarding the overall progression journey, Riot Games recognizes the need for a more eventful experience. They have made adjustments during the earlier stages of the season, allowing players to move both up and down in rank more easily. However, this change also introduced side effects, such as an imbalance between LP gains and losses. The development team acknowledges this issue and emphasizes the importance of preventing rank inflation while maintaining ladder integrity.

Looking ahead, Riot Games has outlined their plans for Split 2 and beyond. They aim to shift the ranking distribution to a more even percentage split, centering around the Gold rank. This adjustment aims to align League of Legends with other competitive games and ensure that each rank accurately represents skill levels. Additionally, to maintain the exclusivity and prestige of Diamond and above ranks, Riot Games will introduce a new rank called Emerald, which will bridge the gap between Platinum and Diamond.