Teamfight Tactics to Switch to Unreal Engine with Set 18 Release

Riot Games has announced that Teamfight Tactics will transition to Unreal Engine with the release of Set 18. The update is scheduled for August 12, 2026. Currently, TFT operates on the Hextech engine, which is used alongside League of Legends. Additionally, the game will receive a standalone client on PC later this year.

Transition to Unreal Engine

The developers clarified that the switch to Unreal Engine does not mean the launch of TFT 2. Teamfight Tactics will remain the same game, but changing the engine will allow the team to develop the project independently from the technical base of League of Legends. According to Riot Games, Set 18 will feel similar to previous sets, with the major changes becoming more noticeable in the long term.

Standalone Client and Testing

After the release of Set 18, TFT will still remain in the current Hextech client. A full-fledged standalone client for Teamfight Tactics on PC is expected to be released four patches later—on October 9. Riot Games has already shown the first drafts of the upcoming client.

Before the release, Set 18 will undergo extensive testing on the PBE. It will start on July 14 and last for four weeks. The developers extended the testing period because the first launch of TFT on Unreal Engine might be accompanied by a significant number of bugs.

After the transition, players will retain their Riot accounts, cosmetic items, RP, and in-game currencies for TFT. On mobile devices, the Teamfight Tactics app will automatically be replaced with the updated version on Unreal Engine. The first patch with Set 18 will be larger than usual in size.