Simran Joshi
The latest update from Riot Games has changed the ARAM game mode in big ways with the new Bridge of Progress map brought forth along with patch 14.22, set live on November 6, 2024.
Sources draw inspiration for the map from the visually rich world of Arcane and include different Piltover and Zaun-themed features alongside new mechanics as well as some change in gameplay that promises to refresh the experience. However, the update has been controversial among a huge chunk of the player base; various concerns rose about visual clarity, gameplay balance, and map dynamics that disrupted the classic ARAM playstyle. Riot has addressed these concerned issues as well, promising adjustments to the most stated concerns.
Players Criticize Over-Loaded Facial and Visual Clarity of Game
The Bridge of Progress ARAM maps are new to the market, and players have taken to complaining about them, mainly due to too much visual overload and complicated additions.
The map is over-topographic and comprises many elements under the influences of Piltover and Zaun inspirations, bushes, and a new side lane which many feel negatively interacts with the main purposes of ARAM: fast and simple play. The crammed visuals, as well as the increased number of features, have negatively impacted game clarity due to how easily parts of the map’s environment get mixed up with active gameplay components.
Another factor worth considering would be that speed shrines have been a destabilizing feature since introducing them actually transferred more power into champions and playstyles.
Since they added the extra bottom lane, the map had increased the awareness and strategic inputs needed by players in avoiding any flanking attacks.
Many have felt this is now no longer ARAM as it had been designed for simplicity and all about direct team fights. Such changes together with the terrain now shift the gameplay state to feel highly chaotic and incomprehensible.
Criticism Over Game Balance and Comeback Potential
One of the strongest criticisms for this Bridge of Progress map is balance. Considering the current state of poke heavy team compositions and strategies, there’s now a clear and significant advantage that they have over the rest.
The fans said that the constricting terrain is particularly difficult after the first turret is destroyed to make the snowball effect even stronger. It has already become very problematic at this point to enable teams from behind to stage comebacks, thus making for very one-sided matches.
The existence of buffs, and additional rewards to acquire such things has accumulated setback from being recovered by the last team.
Riot Games has acknowledged these issues on account of concern by the community. Lead on League of Legends game modes Eduardo “Riot Cadmus” Cortejoso raised the discussion: “We know of the issues noted on gameplay clarity, performance, and some balance concern for both sides of the map.” He assured all players that they are working at it to improve and confirmed that “you may catch some changes.
We will be experimenting to work on clarity concerns in the near future for PBE”. Just to set expectations – these tests are VERY subject to change – we’ll share out the final update once we’re ready with tests.” In addition to a full changelist arriving next week, players impatiently await what Riot has in store for this new ARAM experience.
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