League of Legends Ranked Rewards System Overhaul for 2025: Grind Losing Appeal?

Ranked Rewards System Changes Explained

Riot Games recently announced a major overhaul to the ranked system in League of Legends, set to debut in 2025. The changes are being made to improve accessibility and reduce the grind associated with climbing the ranked ladder, which has seen a significant decline in players over the years. At the same time, Riot is rethinking how players earn the most coveted skins in the game, including the Victorious skin that was once the ultimate reward for competitive players.

What Does This Mean?

1. Only One Reset Per Year: In 2025 and beyond, League of Legends ranked will only reset once at the beginning of the year, rather than mid-season like it has since 2022 (with 3 resets being tested in 2024). This change is meant to help reduce the grind associated with climbing ranked, especially for players who get demoted to a lower rank and are forced to start over mid-season. Riot says this change will give players more time to focus on other things in between splits.
2. Easier Victorious Skin Requirements:

• How it worked in 2024: To earn the base Victorious skin, players had to reach Gold rank and acquire 80 SP, or acquire 1000 Split Points (SP). This means players in lower ranks could claim a free skin from ranked but it required a LOT of grind.
• No Longer Based On Split Points: The Victorious skin is no longer tied to Split Points, making it easier for players to earn who struggle climbing ranked or don't have the time to spare for it. Instead, Riot requires you to play only 15 ranked games.

1. New, More Accessible End-Of-Season Rewards:

• End-Of-Season Rewards: Riot is introducing a new end-of-season reward system, where players will earn a selection of skins based on their performance over the course of the season, rather than at the end.

Riot is making this change to appeal to a broader audience and increase participation in ranked, which has seen a significant decline in players over the years. By making the skin more accessible, Riot hopes to encourage more players to climb and have fun in ranked, while still rewarding the very best teams with exclusive chromas.

The Problem: Ranked Player Base is Declining

These changes are necessary because the ranked player base in League of Legends is in decline. While the game is most certainly not dying, the numbers are ugly and getting worse.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's a look at the recent ranked population decline across major servers:

• 30% Fewer Ranked Players: In 2024, the ranked player base on major servers like North America, solo/duo, and flex queue declined by around 30% compared to 2021. This means millions of players have stopped playing ranked or have never started.
• 500,000 Fewer Players in NA: The North America ranked player base took the biggest hit, losing around 500,000 players and dropping to a population of around 1 million players.
• Declining Populations Since 2021: Ranked populations have been in decline since 2021, and the problem is only worsening.
• 2018 Ranked Population Compared: If we look at 2018's ranked population, we can see a 10-15% decline. This helps put 2024's numbers into perspective and shows this is a long-term problem.

Some of the decline is likely due to pandemic-related lifestyle changes. However, other issues like frequent splits and an aging player base are significant contributors.

The Community Hates the Current Framework

Riot is addressing community complaints about the ranked framework head-on by removing mid-year splits and reducing the grind. Here are some quotes from a popular thread titled " 3 Ranked Splits Is Too Much ":

• Lack of Time: Ranked games often drag on for 35-40 minutes, making it difficult for players with busy schedules to enjoy climbing ranked.
• Splits Are Too Frequent: Ranked resets are happening too often, and players are being forced to replay the same splits (ranked climbs) over and over.
• Aging Player Base: The League of Legends player base is getting older, and many players are finding it difficult to balance work, family, and the intense ranked experience.

These issues have caused a significant portion of the player base to abandon ranked in favor of more casual modes like ARAM, while others have quit playing League altogether.

The Talent Pipeline Has Dried Up

A declining ranked player base is a problem for the esports ecosystem as a whole. Competitive League of Legends needs a steady stream of new talent to excel, and the pipeline is drying up.

Some claim that Faker’s 5th Victory and a 2nd in a row is a sign of dominance. Perhaps it’s, but maybe the talent pool is getting smaller?

The Problem Is Global, Even In Korea

Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur is a well-respected figure in the League esports scene, and he's been sounding the alarm about the lack of young talent in Korea. In a post on X, Hur explained that few young Korean players are focusing on League anymore, instead choosing Valorant, which has a much healthier pipeline of talent:

Hur lists several reasons for this trend:

1. Other Games Are Stealing Attention: Games with shorter skill curves and less grueling competitive scenes are appealing to younger players.
2. Viewers Over Players: Many people simply prefer watching esports instead of playing, and this is a lifestyle change that's here to stay.
3. Esports Market Is Oversaturated: The esports industry expanded far too quickly and is now experiencing a cooling effect as it seeks stability.

This problem isn't limited to Korea, as former Chinese pro player PDD mentioned similar struggles he's facing in trying to recruit talent in China. These are all red flags indicating the ranked player base decline is a global problem that's affecting both casual and competitive League of Legends.

League Might Not Need To Be So Grindy

Riot's changes to the Victorious skin are part of a larger effort to reduce player burnout and make ranked more approachable. By making the skin more accessible, Riot is appealing to a broader audience and catering to players with busy schedules.

Boosting and Smurfing: The Dirty Truth About Ranked

Ranked has always been tied to a player's sense of pride and accomplishment in League. Earning a high rank or rewards like Victorious skins meant you were skilled, and a boosting and smurfing industry flourished as a result. Players were willing to pay thousands of dollars to boost or buy accounts with high ranks because it meant they could flex their digital muscles and impress friends.

The Boosting Market Is Massive

Here's a look at the boosting market:

• Gold Is A Status Symbol: Gold rank used to unlock the Victorious skin, and it's been a coveted reward for many players. Gold is also often seen as the first “good" rank, separating casual players from those who are good but not great.
• Boosting Services Were Expensive: Some boosting services charged $200-$500 to carry players to certain ranks. With League's high game length and steep learning curve, many players were willing to pay for a shortcut.

Boosting Might also face decline in 2025

The new system is going to decimate the boosting market. With the Victorious skin now available to anyone who wins 15 ranked games, the need to grind to a specific rank like Gold is gone. Why pay for a boost when you can play and have fun?

Good LoL Boosting services might not disappear entirely, but they will need to adapt. Diamond and higher ranks like Gold still hold prestige in the League community, and many players will still want to strive for these ranks. Boosting services can target this audience, offering their services to players who want to join the "elite."

Smurf Accounts Will Likely Endure

Smurf accounts are another cash cow, and they'll likely remain so. These are pre-made Diamond or higher-ranked accounts sold on the grey market for thousands of dollars. Players buy them to flex on friends. With the new system, smurfs with high ranks will be even more desirable, as they'll allow buyers to instantly jump into high-ranked games and pretend to be competitive.

Guides that help buyers optimize their ranked strategies will also stick around. The desire to earn those high ranks is too strong to just be gone overnight. There are even rank optimized guides helping common struggles in certain ranks such as this “How to Climb out of Diamond guide”

Boosting and Smurfing Is A Symptom Of Deeper Issues

The boosting and smurfing market is a symptom of a larger problem: ranked has been too grind-heavy for too long, and players are burned out. The fact that these markets are so large is a testament to how much players have emotionally invested in their ranks and how much time/money they've committed.

Riot is trying to address this by making ranked more approachable, but in doing so, they're also reducing the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from earning high ranks. We'll see how it plays out in 2025.

Ranked Is A Sluggish Ecosystem

The ranked system has always been League's weakest link, and it's been a sluggish ecosystem that's held back the game's growth. Riot is trying a new approach, and it's possible this is the solution that gets more players involved in ranked, even if it means the top tiers hold less prestige.

Only time will tell if this works, but one thing is certain: ranked will always be League's most important ecosystem, and how it's designed will continue to dictate player behavior and the boosting market.

Low Engagement Is A Riot Problem

Riot's issues with low engagement are a problem they need to solve on their own. The changes are intended to help, but they might be making the wrong problems right.

The real issue is the shrinking talent pipeline. Ranked players are the lifeblood of the competitive and esports scene. Without a strong, thriving ranked ecosystem, it's impossible to sustain a viable competitive scene.

The Future Of League Is In Your Hands

The 2025 ranked changes are a necessary step for League of Legends. Riot has a tough road ahead in addressing the game's declining engagement and shifting player preferences. Here's hoping they find a balance that appeals to casual and competitive players alike. You can read the full dev update here.