Riot Games, the developer of the popular multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends, has recently announced that it will be phasing out the usage of Summoner Names and moving all players exclusively to Riot IDs. This change will take effect on November 20, 2023, and will affect both League of Legends and its spin-off game Teamfight Tactics.
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What Are Summoner Names and Riot IDs?
Summoner Names are the in-game names that players use to identify themselves in League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. They are chosen by the players when they create their accounts and can be changed later for a fee using either Riot Points (RP) or Blue Essence (BE), the two currencies in the game.
Riot IDs are the universal IDs that players use to identify themselves across all Riot Games titles, such as VALORANT, Legends of Runeterra, and Wild Rift. They are composed of a name and a tagline, which can be customized by the players.
For example, a Riot ID could be “Pyke#Shark” or “Lux#Demacia”. Riot IDs are also chosen by the players when they create their accounts and can be changed for free every 30 days.
On Nov.20th we’re phasing out Summoner Names and shifting exclusively to Riot IDs:
On Nov.20th we’re phasing out Summoner Names and shifting exclusively to Riot IDs. We’re committed to making this transition smooth and keeping you connected to your gaming identity.
Here’s how it will work: https://t.co/5GZAcQrsOb pic.twitter.com/wwuEDcNSSF
— Riot Games (@riotgames) October 16, 2023
Why is Riot Games Making This Change?
This switch from Summoner Names to Riot IDs has occurred for a number of reasons, according to Riot Games. One of these is to better fit League of Legends’ current story and setting, which has developed over time.
Players were initially intended to be Summoners who managed the Champions on the Rift. Riot Games decided to concentrate more on the Champions themselves and their tales in 2014, hence this idea was dropped.
As a result, the term “summoner” is out of date and no longer appropriate for the legend. Another motivation is to improve the consistency and efficiency of the user experience across all Riot Games games.
Riot Games wants to make it simpler for players to transfer between various games and platforms, as well as to interact with their friends and communities, by adopting Riot IDs as the universal player identifier.
Additionally, Riot IDs will allow players to have globally unique names, as they can choose any name they want as long as it is not taken by someone else with the same tagline.
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How Will This Change Affect Players?
Players do not need to do anything for this update, as it will happen automatically on November 20, 2023. However, there are some things that players should be aware of before and after the change.
- Before the change, players can still use their Summoner Names in League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics until November 20, 2023. They can also change their Summoner Names for a fee using RP or BE until then.
- After the change, players will only use their Riot IDs in League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. Their Summoner Names will be replaced by their Riot IDs, which will be displayed in full or partially in different places in the game. For example, their Riot ID name will be shown above their Champion or Little Legend in-game, while their full Riot ID will be shown on their profile page or friend list.
- If players want to change their Riot ID after the change, they can do so for free every 365 days by logging into their account via account.riotgames.com or through the game client. If they want to change their Riot ID more often than that, they will have to pay a fee similar to the current Summoner Name system.
- Players who have set a specific Riot ID for other games that use it (such as VALORANT) but have a different Summoner Name in League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics will have their chosen Riot ID overwrite their Summoner Name after the change.
- Players who have not set a specific Riot ID for other games that use it (such as VALORANT) but have a Summoner Name in League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics will have their first Summoner Name combined with a tag representing their initial server (such as #NA1 or #EUNE) as their default Riot ID after the change.
- Players who have not played any other games that use Riot ID (such as VALORANT) but have a Summoner Name in League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics will have their first Summoner Name combined with a tag representing their initial server (such as #NA1 or #EUNE) as their default Riot ID after the change.
- Players who have not played any games that use either Summoner Name or Riot ID (such as new players) will have to choose a Riot ID when they create their account.
What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of This Change?
This change has some pros and cons for players, depending on how they view their in-game names and identities. Some of the benefits are:
- Players will have more freedom and creativity in choosing their names, as they can use any name they want as long as it is not taken by someone else with the same tagline. They can also change their tagline to match their preferences or moods.
- Players will have more consistency and simplicity in identifying themselves across all Riot Games titles, as they will only have one name to remember and use. They will also be able to find and add their friends more easily, as they will only need to know their Riot ID.
- Players will have more uniqueness and recognition in their names, as they will be the only ones with that name and tagline combination in the world. They will also be able to show off their personality and style with their Riot ID.
Some of the drawbacks are:
- Players will lose their attachment and familiarity with their Summoner Names, which they may have used for a long time and invested a lot of money or effort into. They may also feel nostalgic or sentimental about their Summoner Names, which may have a special meaning or history for them.
- Players will have to adjust and adapt to the new naming system, which may be confusing or inconvenient for them at first. They may also encounter some technical or social issues with the change, such as bugs, errors, conflicts, or harassment.
- Players will have to pay a fee if they want to change their Riot ID more frequently than once a year, which may be expensive or unfair to them. They may also face some limitations or restrictions in choosing their Riot ID, such as name length, availability, or appropriateness.