Riot recently announced that summoners will soon be able to play co-op games against computer controlled champions for IP. It sounds like a cool system, at least for getting back into the mix if you’ve been away for a while or want to test a new champion. More interesting to me, though, is the screenshot that’s in the current client for the service.

As you can see above, the picture shows what appears to be an updated client with some new features. For starters, there is a ‘Game Mode’ field. This could mean very good things for players who, like myself, enjoy a little variety. I would love to see all-random deathmatch implemented, and it would be interested to have an All Random All Mid option as well. The bad news is that the field is blank other than ‘Classic.’ Granted, Riot probably doesn’t want to leak anything, but that could also be an indication of just how far off these new game modes might be.

It’s hard to see much else. The new format is much more conducive to multiple maps in a list format, instead of the current grid button system the client uses to select game types. Any guesses as to how far away this client is? I’ll say six months.

Back in September, Riot teased a new map known as Magma Chamber. Since that teaser, which was basically just a name leak with a little concept art, we’ve heard next to nothing about the map’s release. Players have been getting restless recently, wondering when we’d see the new map, or any new feature for that matter. Just look at the forums. There are seemingly countless threads detailing some manner of unrest with the game.

Even high-tier players feel the game growing stagnant. Elementz made a thread asking for information on Magma Chamber and other upcoming features. Here’s the response he got from Phreak:

Because we’re doing other things that are awesome aside from just Magma Chamber. And when you’re kinda the biggest deal in a genre, people want to steal your ideas, kinda like how HoN 2 has “casual mode” with deny removed. I wonder where they got that idea from?

We don’t want to give free ideas to our competitors if we have the chance. This doesn’t change our release plans for releasing awesome features for you guys, but it does mean you get left in the dark a bit longer than we’d like. We’re sorry for that, because we’d love to be “Here’s these awesome things we’re working on and here’s how they’re progressing.” But as tired as this refrain gets, trust me, it’s going to be freaking awesome and some of it’s coming really soon. I want so badly to tell you just how soon it is and what it is, but… oh man it’s really cool and you should be hearing about some if it shortly.

Gah I hate having to use vague terms with you guys. Please just trust me <3

Obviously, there’s not much to glean from that. Phreak is being intentionally vague and also intentionally personal – “Gah…<3" - presumably in the hope that it won't spark more controversy. I wouldn't count on it.