The release date of the highly anticipated Riot MMORPG set in the League of Legends universe will be announced at some point, but we do have an idea of its potential classes, the map, and gameplay mechanics.
Riot Games, renowned for esports-centered titles like League of Legends and Valorant, is reportedly developing a highly anticipated MMORPG set in the League of Legends universe, Runeterra. The closed beta for this game might debut around late 2025 and it’s expected to be deeply intertwined with League’s lore and story. Like Riot’s previous titles, this RPG will likely offer free access with monetization through cosmetic content.
This project, alongside an upcoming fighting game called Project L, generates significant anticipation among fans. And here we will discuss everything known about Riot MMORPG, its possible release date, characters, maps, gameplay, and more.
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Riot MMORPG Release Date
Riot Games has not yet disclosed an exact release date for their upcoming League of Legends MMO. The extensive development process for an MMORPG, like the one they’re undertaking, is exemplified by the case of World of Warcraft. Although officially announced in 2001, it took Blizzard three more years to release the game in late 2004, and even then, a significant amount of in-game content was absent.
Although Riot Games has not yet announced a release window, we estimate that this much-awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game will launch in late 2025 or early 2026. This anticipated release date is predicated on conversations from reputable leakers, internet forums, etc.
Apart from the release, the fans are anticipating the introduction of a closed beta by the previously specified date, at the very least.
Riot MMORPG Characters
In the upcoming Riot MMORPG set in the League of Legends universe, players will have a large roster of characters having different races and classes to choose from.
The MMO is anticipated to offer a wide range of playstyles, catering to preferences for magic, tanking, or assassination. The classes draw inspiration from the well-established League of Legends classes and subclasses.
Based on the current data, players may get to choose from the following races, classes, and sub-classes.
Races:
- Ascended
- Celestial
- Dragon
- Golem
- Human
- Minotaur
- Spirit
- Undead
- Vastaya
- Void Born
- Wolf
- Yordle
Classes and Sub Classes:
- Controller:
- Enchanter
- Catcher
- Fighter:
- Juggernaut
- Diver
- Mage:
- Burst
- Battlemage
- Artillery
- Marksman
- Slayer:
- Assassin
- Skirmisher
- Tank:
- Vanguard
- Warden
While this information is derived from existing League lore, it’s important to note that exact details on Riot MMORPG characters remain unconfirmed, as per an interview with the MMO’s lead developers in July 2023.
Riot MMORPG Map and Regions
The MMORPG from Riot Games set in the League of Legends universe is likely to feature the expansive map of Runeterra, comprising two large continents and numerous surrounding islands. The confirmed Riot MMORPG Map and regions from Runeterra expected to be included are:
- Bandle City
- Bilgewater
- Demacia
- Ionia
- Ixtal
- Noxus
- Piltover
- Shadow Isles
- Shurima
- Targon
- The Freljord
- The Void
- Zaun
Though there are chances that some new regions might get added to Riot MMORPG, it’s plausible that the next project from Riot Games could feature the same eight regions found in the card game Legends of Runeterra, potentially incorporating The Void as a part of the overall journey.
Riot MMORPG Gameplay
Riot Games hasn’t revealed many specifics about the gameplay of its upcoming MMO. Still, it’s expected to function like a typical MMO, featuring various classes, creatures, and regions as fundamental components of the game.
Exploration and dungeon crawling are likely to be key elements of the gameplay. Riot has alluded to the end-game content, which is expected to include dungeons and raids, providing an exciting post-leveling experience for players. Riot aims to create captivating and engaging end-game content, recognizing its significance in MMOs.
Apart from this, Riot Games has a history of offering free-to-play games, and it’s likely that their upcoming MMO, based on League of Legends, will follow suit. While no official confirmation is available, the expectation is that the Riot MMORPG will have a free-to-play model with cosmetic microtransactions commonly used, as seen in games like Lost Ark. Alternatively, they could opt for a paid subscription model like World of Warcraft, but this might be less appealing to League players accustomed to free-to-play experiences.
Riot MMORPG Story
The upcoming Riot MMORPG is expected to draw heavily from the rich lore of Runeterra, which is renowned for its intricate and well-developed narrative in League of Legends. The success of Arcane, an animated series set in the League universe, further supports this likelihood.
Greg Street, the former head of the MMO project at Riot Games, confirmed on Twitter that the MMO will be considered as part of the official lore. This suggests that the game’s story and characters will be integrated into the broader narrative, especially if it attracts a large and engaged player base, as MMOs tend to do.
Riot has also announced plans to establish a unified Runeterran lore across all their titles, making it highly plausible for the Riot MMORPG to be canon.
Well, we have some known names working on the title, notably some industry veterans, so we can expect a solid Riot MMORPG to be under development.
Greg Street, who led the project, previously worked on acclaimed titles like World of Warcraft. Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, known for his work on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, is the lead quest designer, suggesting intriguing quests in the game. Mark Yetter, formerly the Lead Gameplay Designer of League of Legends, joined as the Game Director in 2021, potentially ensuring a strong focus on gameplay balance.
Let’s hope we hear more soon about this fascinating project that Riot Games is working on.
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