Riot's Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, League of Legends Lore and Storytelling
There's no denying that Riot's Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, League of Legends, is steeped in a rich, convoluted lore and deep-rooted storytelling. Its expansive world of Runeterra isn’t just about the endless battles between characters. There’s much more beneath the surface, including multiple standalone comics, a Netflix series, and numerous character interactions.
The Growing Expectations and Player Frustrations
However, with the continuous introduction of new champions and regions to the game, there's a growing expectation among players for Riot Games to enhance the lore within the game itself and provide more texture to the storytelling. Unfortunately, attempts to fulfill this demand have surfaced player frustrations over what they perceive as unfulfilled promises by Riot Games made earlier this year.
Briar's Character Interaction Fracas
In the wake of frustrations from other players about the scarcity of character interactions, particularly involving Briar, a Reddit post highlighted what they consider a decline in lore within the League of Legends universe. In this post, the author accused the developers of failure to deliver promised new ways of storytelling, seven months after the promise was made. The post also mentioned several instances as a means of making their point, alleging canceled color stories and contradicting cinematics.
Player Disappointment with Riot's Unmet Pledges
In addition to the lack of updates on the lore, several Reddit users provided unfilled examples, lamenting Riot's failure to deliver on certain pledges. Among the unfulfilled promises, the introduction of Announcer Packs was mentioned, while Toplaners were also waiting on Satisfaction Changes since last preseason, which were again deferred until the forthcoming preseason.
Criticism on Riot's Handling of Lore
Riot Games has been criticized for their apparent neglect of lore, choosing instead to entrust it to other teams, such as Riot Forge, Legends of Runeterra (LoR), and outsourced cinematic projects. Many users expressed skepticism about the developer update videos, accusing them of merely delaying things while hoping players forget their promises.
The Future of League of Legends' Lore
As frustration continues to mount among the player base, Riot Games may need to take steps in the short term to appease their community. Nonetheless, with major projects like a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) in progress, fans of the lore might have to be patient to see the changes they demand.