Riot Games has released a cinematic to mark the official launch of 'League of Legends Classic' (LoL Classic).

Riot officially launched LoL Classic on the 30th. Players can access it through the existing Riot Client or League of Legends without needing to download a separate client. To celebrate, the company uploaded a cinematic titled 'Welcome Back, Summoners' to its official YouTube channel.

In the video, Zilean, the protagonist, is hit by Zoe's 'Sleepy Trouble Bubble' and Yone's 'Fate Sealed' in quick succession, leaving him on the verge of being finished off by K'Sante. Zilean attempts to use his 'Chronoshift' to rewind time and revive. After rewinding, he laments that he missed a few patch notes and now has dozens of passives to keep track of—a self-deprecating joke about how complex many modern champion kits have become. He then gazes at a photo of past champions, lost in nostalgia.

Instead of reviving at the moment he just died, Zilean discovers a different path. It is a road filled with countless memes and Easter eggs that have defined LoL's history. At the end of the passage, familiar champions from the past, looking different from their modern counterparts, welcome him back. He has been resurrected in the world of LoL Classic.

The scene then transitions to LoL Classic gameplay, showcasing past versions of champions: Sion using 'Enrage' with an AP build, Ryze with all targeted abilities, and Fiddlesticks using 'Dark Wind' to bounce crows and silence enemies. The video also highlights features unique to LoL Classic, such as long-removed masteries, rune pages that players had to purchase and equip before the game, and items that no longer exist in the modern version.

LoL Classic is a separate game mode that combines elements from various seasons, primarily based on Season 3 of League of Legends. It features 60 champions with their pre-update appearances and skill sets, and the map recreates the original Summoner's Rift. Riot also plans to introduce a 'Classic Council' system, where future game updates will be determined by player votes.

The launch also ties into esports. Riot is preparing the LCK Legend Match, set to take place on August 4 at the LoL PARK in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The event will feature special matches between legendary players who made their mark in the past, including Looper, Spirit, PawN, Piglet, Heart, MakNooN, inSec, Kuro, Captain Jack, and GorillA.