April Fools' Joke Confirms Locke as Next League of Legends Champion Riot Games officially confirmed that the next League of Legends champion will be Locke, a Demacian comic character, after an April Fools’ joke inadvertently revealed the news. The announcement came through a now-deleted tweet by Pu “Pupulasers” Liu, the game’s director, who humorously claimed that Locke’s release would require removing one existing champion from the roster. This marked the first direct confirmation of Locke as a champion, aligning with the Demacian theme of the current season and following the Shyvana VGU rework. The revelation was tied to a motion comic titled “For the Fallen,” released earlier this year, which introduced Locke as a hooded figure interacting with a bartender. In the comic, the character is warned that “no one that goes into those woods comes back, at least not the same as they were,” a line that resonates with the dark themes of Sona’s recent cinematic and hints at potential lore connections. This narrative thread reinforces the Demacian storyline, which has been a recurring theme in the game’s recent updates. Rumors about Locke’s abilities had already circulated, with speculation suggesting he might be an AP jungler or mid laner using giant nails as part of his kit. Leaked images and tweets from sources like @BigBadBear_ and @LeagueOfLeaks fueled these theories, though no official details have been confirmed. Despite the hype, Riot emphasized that Locke will be the only new champion released in 2026, with the release expected around mid-year. The timeline for Locke’s release was outlined by Andrei “Meddler” van Roon, head of League Studio, who noted that most of the team working on new champions is currently focused on a large update slated for post-MSI.#riot_games #locke #andrei_meddler #pu_pupulasers #demacian
