What devices is League of Legends on? Exploring Compatibility and Gameplay in Wild Rift

Are you ready to dive into the vibrant world of League of Legends: Wild Rift? Picture this: the thrill of strategic multiplayer battles now at your fingertips, accessible from the comfort of your smartphone. This mobile adaptation of the beloved PC sensation brings the essence of the Summoner’s Rift to Android and iOS devices, making it easier than ever to gather your friends and engage in epic clashes. As we explore the compatibility of Wild Rift across various devices, we’ll unravel the journey of how this game transformed from a desktop staple into a mobile phenomenon. Are you equipped to join the fray?

Devices Compatible with League of Legends: Wild Rift

As of the latest updates, League of Legends: Wild Rift, commonly referred to as Wild Rift, is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) mobile game developed and published by Riot Games. It is available for Android and iOS devices. This game represents a modified adaptation of the renowned PC title League of Legends.

Gameplay Overview

In League of Legends: Wild Rift, players take control of a character known as a “champion,” each with unique abilities. Players compete against teams or AI-controlled units with the ultimate goal of destroying the enemy’s base, referred to as the “Nexus.” Each match is structured independently, beginning with champions at a basic level. As the game progresses, players enhance their champions by earning experience and collecting items.

Wild Rift offers a gameplay experience similar to its PC counterpart, yet tailored for mobile devices. The matches are faster-paced due to modifications that include a smaller map size, reduced respawn times, accelerated gold acquisition, and halved regeneration time. Consequently, while traditional PC matches may last around 45 minutes, Wild Rift sessions typically conclude within 15 to 20 minutes. Currently, the game features two primary modes: Wild Rift, encompassing PVP, ranked play, and tournament drafts, and ARAM (All Random All Mid).

Wild Rift Mode

Each match consists of ten players organized into two teams for a 5v5 showdown. Players select champions to form their teams, and their objective is to destroy the opponent’s Nexus while navigating a series of defensive turrets. Unlike the PC version, Wild Rift has eliminated inhibitors and Nexus turrets, allowing the Nexus to attack enemy units.

The game has an integrated ranked competitive system featuring a matchmaking mechanism to assess player skill levels across 11 tiers: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, Challenger, and Sovereign.

ARAM Mode

Apart from standard gameplay, Wild Rift includes an ARAM mode where players engage in a 5v5 setup with randomly assigned champions. The battlefield is condensed, focusing solely on the mid-lane, eliminating jungle areas and other routes, and consequently lacking dragon and Baron objectives.

Development Insights

Pre-release Phases

After Tencent’s acquisition of Riot Games in 2015, the company was tasked with converting League of Legends into a mobile application. Initially, Riot rejected the idea, claiming the game couldn’t efficiently transition to smartphones. Tencent then created its own mobile title, Honor of Kings, which garnered popularity and initiated tensions between the two companies, exacerbated by Tencent’s marketing strategies that utilized well-known League players. Following Riot’s grievances, a marketing halt for Arena of Valor was enforced, along with requests for review rights over promotional materials featuring selected gamers.

Nevertheless, Riot eventually recognized the mobile gaming market’s potential and committed to developing a mobile version of League of Legends. Tencent subsequently scaled back marketing efforts for Arena of Valor in areas where Wild Rift was announced, culminating in the game’s reveal on October 15, 2019, coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of League of Legends.

Release Timeline

League of Legends: Wild Rift officially launched on October 27, 2020, following a limited alpha test in Brazil and the Philippines in June 2020. Its release was accompanied by a cinematic trailer shared on the League of Legends: Wild Rift YouTube channel.

A closed beta began in Southeast Asia on September 16, 2020, utilizing Google Play and Apple’s TestFlight to expand access. By October 8, 2020, this closed beta extended to South Korea and Japan. On October 27, 2020, the open beta rolled out in Southeast Asia, followed by a significant expansion on December 7, 2020, which included Vietnam, Oceania, and Taiwan. Notably, the Americas accessed the open beta on March 29, 2021. For the Chinese market, Wild Rift received approval from the National Press and Publication Administration in early 2021, leading to the game’s official release by Tencent on October 8, 2021.

Riot Games has also expressed intentions to develop a console version of Wild Rift. Executive Producer Alan Moore indicated that this version was in the works, though no updates were disclosed in 2022.

Revenue Model

Wild Rift operates on a free-to-play revenue model. Players can purchase cosmetic enhancements known as “skins” using an in-game currency called Wild Cores. The game introduces new skin lines like “Stargazer” along with other standalone options. One feature unique to Wild Rift is “champion poses,” enabling players to customize their champions’ appearance before and after matches, available through event chests. Additionally, a system called Wild Passes has been implemented, offering players skins, in-game currency, icons, and emotes—alongside exclusive skins for those who purchase the pass and achieve maximum leveling through game missions or acquiring levels with Wild Cores.

Reception and Reviews

Overall, League of Legends: Wild Rift garnered positive feedback from gaming critics. On Metacritic, it achieved an impressive score of 89 based on seven reviews. Critics noted that Wild Rift serves as an excellent alternative for those who may find the PC version overwhelming. The game was praised for its art style and ability to perform well on a range of devices.

Editors acknowledged that while the touchscreen controls were user-friendly, the virtual joystick for movement occasionally lacked responsiveness. Nevertheless, it was emphasized that Wild Rift effectively eases new players into the complexities of its gameplay.

During the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, League of Legends: Wild Rift was nominated for Mobile Game of the Year.

Player Behavior

Reports indicate that the player community on Wild Rift in the United States exhibits markedly less toxicity compared to the original League of Legends. Differences were attributed to the challenges of typing on mobile devices, resulting in a more relaxed environment. While some disputes over roles emerged, the game has been praised for rejuvenating a community that had become somewhat insular.