For the past two weeks we’ve seen extended server downtime on patch day, a trend that bucks several months of mostly problem-free patching. As good as the last several months have been, I immediately think of the long downtime associated with patches before Season One, back when servers would go down for the entire day, sometimes more.

I’m hoping the recent extended downtimes mean Riot is preparing the servers, software or hardware, for new feature releases. These last two patches have been remarkably light on content. There have not been major champion changes and Riot has yet to introduce any major client updates. Barring those things, there isn’t much that should delay the update process as much as we’ve seen.

Could we see a client update before March 1st?

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.