League of Legends Developers Explain Removal of Free Hextech Chests Amid Player Outrage

As we head into Season 2025, the gaming community has expressed significant discontent over Riot Games’ decision to eliminate the option of earning free Hextech Chests in League of Legends. This controversial change has sparked a wave of criticism across social media, particularly on Riot’s official Twitter account, where players consistently voice their desire for the return of these chests.

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— SweepSalt (@NthButAHornDog) February 5, 2025

Players have not only shown their frustration but have actively engaged in humorous memes criticizing Riot’s choice. Many of these responses have garnered more interaction than the original posts by the company, highlighting a collective disapproval of the decision to take away a previously free feature.

The Reason Behind the Removal of Hextech Chests

Historically, Hextech Chests provided League of Legends players with a chance to obtain free skins. Though the skin shards were random and could take time to accumulate something desirable, players generally enjoyed the process of earning these rewards through gameplay. However, the financial implications of this system have now come to light.

Riot Games has disclosed that the prevalence of players securing skins through chests reduced the urgency to purchase new skins upon their release, thereby negatively impacting the company’s revenue. This revelation has understandably left fans upset.

In this Dev Update RiotChest and RiotPredatoryMonetization apologize for removing free Hextech Chests, we recognize we made a huge mistake and will be reimplementing free chests as soon as possible and compensating the community in some way for forgetting our own core values.pic.twitter.com/TIwUvfLs5P

— League Of Legends De Oliveira “LOL FUNNY” Jr😁 (@LOL_ENGRAcADA) February 7, 2025

Riot developers acknowledged the removal of Hextech Chests in a recent update, stating that the decision was primarily influenced by financial considerations. Pabro, a representative from Riot, noted, “As a free-to-play game, skins are the primary way League pays its bills. They’re what give us the ability to continue to develop the game and the wider ecosystem.”

In discussing the state of player engagement, Meddler, another developer, emphasized the company’s desire to foster a rewarding gaming experience while also maintaining financial sustainability. Despite this, many players have voiced their skepticism regarding the necessity of such changes, believing it comes off as a tactic to profit from dedicated fans who once benefitted from free rewards.

Critics expressed their frustration across various platforms, claiming the reasoning provided by the developers seemed disingenuous. One player remarked, “Their excuse for chests is so bullsh*t. Don’t gut free rewards and then make paid products more expensive, pick one or the other, ” indicating a significant divide between Riot’s justification and player sentiment.

The backlash intensified as players noted that while free rewards were being stripped away, the prices of premium skins remained elevated. A notable example includes the staggering price tag of nearly $500 for Faker’s Ahri skin, further aggravating the situation.

league of legends ahri faker hall of fame — Riot Games

Despite the negative feedback, there are efforts in motion to enhance the current Battle Pass offering. Developers are focusing on making missions more accessible and removing unpopular types to provide a more engaging experience for players.

While these updates show promise, the community’s discontent regarding the removal of Hextech Chests is unlikely to dissipate quickly. If Riot had proactively communicated these changes prior to the official announcement, public perception might have been less turbulent.

In summary, the removal of Hextech Chests has created a considerable rift between players and Riot Games, raising critical questions about the balance of free rewards and monetization strategies in an ever-evolving gaming landscape. Expect the debate around this issue to continue as players and developers navigate the complexities of maintaining a thriving gaming community.

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