Riot Games’ License Lapse Briefly Makes League of Legends Unplayable
▼ Summary
– League of Legends became temporarily unplayable because its digital license, valid from 2016 to early 2026, expired.
– Players discovered a workaround by setting their system clocks back to a date before the certificate’s expiration.
– The issue has been resolved, highlighting how common certificate expirations are as a cause of service outages.
– The game is approaching a major overhaul with a new version planned for release in 2027.
– This revitalization follows a difficult period for Riot Games, which included significant layoffs in 2024.
For a brief but disruptive period, the globally popular multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends became completely unplayable for its vast player base. The issue stemmed from an expired digital license, a critical certificate that verifies the software’s authenticity and security. This certificate, originally valid for a decade from January 2016, reached its predetermined expiration date on January 4, 2026, rendering the game client unable to launch as systems around the world transitioned into the new day.
A resourceful temporary fix emerged from the community, allowing dedicated fans to bypass the blockage. Players discovered they could manually set their computer’s system clock back to a date before the certificate’s expiration. This simple trick effectively fooled the game’s verification process, though it carried the risk of causing errors with other time-sensitive applications on their machines. The workaround provided a crucial stopgap for those determined to get into their matches.
Thankfully, the developers at Riot Games have since resolved the licensing error, restoring full access to the game’s servers. This incident serves as a stark, if somewhat humorous, reminder of the fragile infrastructure underpinning our digital services. Outages caused by expired digital certificates are a surprisingly common IT headache. A recent industry survey indicated that nearly half of all companies have experienced service disruptions for this exact reason. Similar certificate issues have previously affected other platforms, including a widespread “Device Not Supported” error for Steam Deck users.
This technical hiccup occurs as League of Legends prepares for its most significant transformation in years. Riot has announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the game, with a new version slated for release in 2027. Details about this ambitious project are expected to be shared in the near future, and given the scale of the changes, ensuring a fresh set of updated certifications will undoubtedly be a priority. The game is also implementing a new seasonal structure designed to maintain engagement and freshness for its core community.
This phase of renewal and change follows a challenging period for Riot Games. The company underwent two separate rounds of layoffs in 2024, describing the cuts as a “necessity” due to costs that had grown “unsustainable.” Leadership stated this financial pressure had eliminated the company’s flexibility for experimentation, making strategic focus imperative. The recent certificate lapse, while quickly fixed, underscores the complex balance between maintaining a live-service titan and innovating for its future.
(Source: Euro Gamer)
