League of Legends
News, coverage and analysis tracking League of Legends across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Ontos is a game about rats, liars, and lying rats. At least, I think that's what it is
Ontos is a narrative-driven game that explores themes of deception and moral ambiguity through difficult choices, as experienced in a Gamescom preview. Players encounter numerous rats and must decide their fate, with options ranging from freeing them to causing them harm. The game aims to present players with weighty decisions that may have significant repercussions, though the preview suggests the decision-making might be too obvious at times.
The Emperor would approve of Total War Warhammer 40k, Creative Assembly says. I can't help but agree.
Creative Assembly's Total War: Warhammer 40,000 aims to distill the vast Warhammer 40,000 universe into manageable, immersive campaigns. The game focuses on specific segments of the galaxy, allowing players to experience granular battles with meaningful stakes, reminiscent of Helldivers 2. The preview highlights accessible gameplay for newcomers and deep customization options, drawing inspiration from Space Marine 2.
Our World of Warcraft Forever hype is dampened by $30 elves: New Skyborne race locked behind expansion-tier purchase
The upcoming World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion includes the new Skyborne Elf race and its starter zone behind a $30 "Skyborne Hero Pack" purchase, separate from the main expansion cost. This pricing is criticized as being high, comparable to an expansion pack itself, and contrasts with the value offered by other new games and the inclusion of most other content within the standard subscription.
Blizzard announces animated Diablo show coming to Netflix
Blizzard has announced an animated series set in the Diablo universe is in development with Netflix. While few details were provided, Blizzard expressed excitement about telling stories beyond games and hinted at potential adaptations for Overwatch and Warcraft. The move follows the success of other animated video game adaptations like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Arcane.
League of Legends is "trying to thread the needle" of balance and frustration
League of Legends Game Design Lead Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison discussed the challenges of balancing the game while managing player frustration. He explained that while some friction is necessary for variety, Riot Games aims to address extreme outliers and cater to both average players and the professional scene.
Massively Overthinking: Should MMORPG development be approached like a ‘grail quest’?
This article discusses whether approaching MMORPG development as a 'grail quest' is a worthwhile strategy, featuring insights from various writers and readers. While some express optimism about Riot Games' ambitious approach to its in-development MMO, others raise concerns about the challenges and potential for disappointment inherent in such large-scale projects.
I sniffed a Minecraft sheep at Gamescom. No, I won't elaborate.
At Gamescom 2026, a preview of Zestum's Scentbar technology demonstrated its ability to emit odors matching in-game environments, such as grass, wood, smoke, and even sheep manure in Minecraft. This AI-powered device, available for pre-order on PC with console versions planned, aims to enhance sensory immersion in gaming.
"Everyone wants immediate gratification" - Project Zeta studio on making a new action-focused MOBA without all the fluff
Nirvanana and Krafton are developing Project Zeta, a new MOBA designed for immediate gratification and action-focused gameplay. The game features four teams of four in a single arena, encouraging constant PvP battles and objective securing, moving away from traditional laning phases. CEO Namseok Kim aims to revitalize the genre for a modern audience by prioritizing fast-paced, engaging combat.
League of Legends outlines additional tweaks for classic mode and the proliferation of voice chat to teams
League of Legends is introducing in-game voice chat for all team members, featuring improved noise cancellation and stability, with moderation tied to the honor system. The game will also see several updates to its classic mode, including lighting improvements, better IP and XP rates, and new champion additions.
Riot Games is considering making premium titles, says co-founder
Riot Games is exploring the development of premium, non-free-to-play titles, according to co-founder Marc Merrill. While the company has found success with free-to-play games like League of Legends and Valorant, Merrill indicated that not every game needs to be free-to-play and that the business model must fit the game's vision. This comes after the discontinuation of their fighting game 2XKO and the winding down of the Riot Forge publishing label.
Riot, after 17 years, finally adds team voice chat to League of Legends
Riot Games has finally added team voice chat to League of Legends after 17 years. This feature allows players to communicate with their entire team in-game.
League of Legends is finally letting you talk to your entire team
Riot Games is expanding League of Legends' voice chat system to allow team-wide communication, moving beyond limits to premade groups. This feature requires players to reach Honor Level 3 or above for moderation and will initially roll out in North America and Oceania with Patch 26.20. The update also focuses on music for Season 3 Act 2 and introduces voice skins.
Sega cancelled its "risky" Super Game project as it "would have to grow enormously to match the scale of the service"
Sega has cancelled its ambitious "Super Game" initiative, citing the project's excessive risk and the enormous scale of investment and operations required to match a live-service model. President and COO Shuji Utsumi stated that while the company still sees a business opportunity in live-service games, the current challenges made the Super Game project too risky to pursue. Sega continues to operate live-service titles and remains committed to the genre, unlike some other companies facing similar difficulties.
League of Legends MMO is Riot's "Grail quest" and "many a brave knight are going to die," boss says, but fans aren't confident after 2XKO's fate: "Hope this time you don't cancel it"
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill referred to the long-in-development League of Legends MMO as the studio's "Grail quest," acknowledging the high stakes and potential for failure. However, fan confidence is low due to the recent cancellation of 2XKO and changes to Legends of Runeterra, with many expressing concern that the MMO could also be canceled or lack long-term support.
2XKO wasn't a "mistake," Riot's Marc Merrill says. "We delivered a game that took risks"
Riot Games Co-Founder Marc Merrill stated that 2XKO was not a mistake, but a game that took risks, despite its development ending. He acknowledged the challenges of the fighting game market and the difficulty of sustaining live service titles in a competitive landscape. While 2XKO did not achieve critical mass, Merrill expressed pride in the team's effort and commitment to taking big swings with future projects.
"Many a brave knight are going to die" - Riot Games head Marc Merrill speaks on in-development MMO after 2XKO's untimely demise
Riot Games CPO Marc Merrill discussed the studio's in-development MMO, calling it "the grail" despite the recent shutdown of its fighting game 2XKO. While Merrill expressed optimism and commitment to the ambitious project, public sentiment is skeptical due to 2XKO's short lifespan and other Riot Games live service titles facing similar fates.
Riot Co-Founder Calls League of Legends MMO the 'Grail' Quest, 5 Years After It Was Announced
Riot Games co-founder Mark Merrill described the studio's long-in-development MMO, based on the League of Legends universe, as its "grail quest." The project was first announced approximately five years ago.
Riot Games knows its MMO is a big risk. "But f*** it, it's The Grail, so let's go."
Riot Games is proceeding with its ambitious MMORPG project, acknowledging the genre's high failure rate and calling the endeavor 'The Grail.' Despite a recent project reset and the cancellation of its fighter 2XKO due to sustainability concerns, studio co-founder Marc Merrill expressed confidence in the team's ability to execute and deliver a worthy experience.
Fall’s Video Game Release Slate Is Intimidatingly Good And Completely Doomed
The Fall 2026 video game release schedule is packed with highly anticipated titles, but this glut is predicted to cause a 'bloodbath' in the industry. Intense competition for consumer dollars and a worsening global economy are expected to lead to significant underperformance, layoffs, and potential studio closures, particularly for smaller developers. Even major publishers may struggle to navigate the crowded market, with few likely to emerge unscathed.
Inside Tencent's long-term strategy: live service, AI tools, and evergreen titles
Tencent's long-term strategy for its global games division centers on building sustainable communities through live service titles and evergreen IPs, alongside investing in high-quality talent and synergistic partnerships. The company is also embracing AI as a tool to enhance developer efficiency and iteration, rather than replace human roles, while navigating challenges in global integration and outsourcing.
