League of Legends: Hextech Chest Controversy Summarized

The Hextech Chest controversy has taken over the League of Legends community, with players flooding social media demanding their return. Unlike previous boycotts, which were often organized movements, this outcry has happened naturally, making it one of the most widespread community-driven protests in League history.

Riot Games removed Hextech Chests as part of a new reward system, but the backlash has been immense. The removal of key features tied to core gameplay, like earning chests through mastery progression, has left players frustrated. As weeks have passed, Riot has yet to address the issue directly, fueling even more frustration.

The Root of the Controversy

When the new reward system was introduced at the start of the season update, it was marketed as a way to simplify and consolidate rewards into one unified track. However, this also meant the removal of individual systems, like earning chests through mastery progression and Hextech keys^[1] through gameplay.

At first, players were skeptical but gave Riot the benefit of the doubt, hoping the new system would be balanced. However, once they realized that they lost access to free chests, frustration quickly spread. Unlike paid rewards from battle passes, Hextech Chests were a free way for dedicated players to earn skins, cosmetics, and other loot just by playing well.

The Community’s Response

The backlash didn’t start as an organized boycott—instead, it organically spread across social media. Players flooded Riot’s official posts with demands for the return of Hextech Chests, regardless of the topic of the post. Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube were all filled with comments like:

• "Where are my Hextech Chests?"
• "Bring back free chests!"
• "Why do I have keys if I have no chests to open?"

At first, the issue was overshadowed by other complaints, like the Blue Essence miscalculation, which Riot quickly acknowledged. However, when Riot ignored the Hextech Chest complaints, the outrage grew even bigger.

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Spanish Riot Leak and Riot’s Silence

Things escalated when a Spanish Riot employee mentioned that Riot was internally discussing the return of Hextech Chests. While this wasn’t an official confirmation, it proved Riot was aware of the backlash. Yet, despite this, no official statement was made, making players even more frustrated.

For two weeks, Riot avoided mentioning Hextech Chests, and players kept bombarding every post with comments. Whether Riot announced a new champion, a skin, or even charity events, players continued spamming chest-related memes and demands.

The Riot YouTube Video Incident

The situation reached new levels of controversy when Riot released and then mysteriously removed a video featuring Mel’s theme. Many speculated that Riot deleted the video to reset the flood of Hextech Chest-related comments before reuploading it.

However, this didn’t work, as players immediately resumed commenting about chests. The removal of the video only increased suspicions that Riot was deliberately trying to silence complaints, making things even worse.

What Happens Next?

With no response from Riot, it’s unclear how this situation will end. However, what makes this case different from past boycotts is that it’s entirely community-driven. Since no specific group is organizing it, Riot can’t wait for the protest to fade away—because it’s happening organically.

Related: Top 15 rarest League of Legends icons.

If Riot does eventually address the issue, it would be a historic moment, proving that a community-driven movement can lead to real change in League of Legends. Whether Riot brings back Hextech Chests or introduces an alternative, this controversy has already left a lasting impact on the community.

References

1. [1] "Hextech Crafting". leagueoflegends.fandom.com. Retrieved February 05, 2025