Arcane’s End? Riot Games Founder Suggests More Stories to Come

Despite Arcane’s conclusion with its second season, Riot Games has exciting plans for the League of Legends universe in animated form. Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, recently sparked hope among fans by suggesting that more stories from the beloved gaming universe are on the horizon.

In a recent exchange on X (formerly Twitter), Merrill addressed concerns from fans about the series ending. Merrill replied to a Tweet asking why Arcane will not be getting more seasons, saying, “Cuz there are lots of other stories to tell.” This simple statement has ignited speculation about potential new shows set within the rich League of Legends universe.

This statement aligns with that of Christian Linke, co-creator of Arcane, who has previously suggested the possibility of exploring additional narratives within Runeterra, the game’s fictional universe. In an interview with Game Rant, Linke confirmed that the team is developing “a bunch of new projects” within the Arcane universe. These stories will explore different regions and feature various characters from the League of Legends IP, with some narratives continuing the journeys of characters from Arcane, as Linke revealed.

The tremendous success of Arcane hasn’t come without significant investment. Recent reports from Variety reveal that the show stands as the most expensive animated series ever produced, with a total budget of $250 million for its 18 episodes across two seasons. However, Merrill has dismissed the reports, calling it “silly,” in a separate Reddit post. In a detailed explanation, he stated that the cost per minute actually runs about 1/3 to 1/4 of typical Pixar or Illumination productions.

“The market for this (‘high-quality adult focused animation’) didn’t exist before Arcane,” Merrill noted, highlighting how the show has broken new ground in the animation industry.

The series has garnered critical acclaim for its unique artistic style and compelling storytelling, particularly in its portrayal of the complex relationship between characters Jinx and Vi. While fans prepare for the final episodes dropping on November 23, they can take comfort in knowing that Riot Games appears committed to expanding its animated content portfolio.

However, Merrill cautions against expecting quick turnarounds on new projects. “Just because that is our intent, doesn’t mean it’s easy or that we can pump these things out like a factory,” he added.

While no specific projects have been confirmed, Riot’s willingness to invest in high-quality animation and storytelling suggests an exciting future for League of Legends fans beyond the gaming realm.

Interestingly, the same Variety report also mentioned that the company had once tried to develop a League of Legends feature film with the directors of Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, Joe and Anthony Russo. However, due to creative differences, the project did not proceed, leading to a $5 million loss. Neither Riot Games nor Marc Merrill have commented on this matter.

Speaking of adaptation, Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell movie has been declared dead by its producer Basil Iwanyk recently. Initially announced in 2012, it was supposed to star Tom Hardy as Sam Fisher, the legendary spec ops agent from Ubisoft’s popular stealth game franchise.