Can Arcane Save Riot Games?

In an era where video game adaptations often fall flat, it is refreshing to observe the phenomenon of Arcane, a masterfully crafted series that has enjoyed stellar ratings and critical acclaim. Combining beautiful digital artwork, complex characters, and an original soundtrack, Arcane offers viewers a truly original experience. The show has resonated not merely with fans of League of Legends, the game it is based on, but with a broader audience, attracting people who would have otherwise never thought of giving it a go.

Aside from a creative adaptation of the stories behind prominent characters of the game, Arcane plays a crucial role in the continuation not only of League but of Riot Games.

Founded in 2006, Riot Games has historically been synonymous with one of the most popular and enduring games of the last decade, League of Legends. The community League has developed is filled with people from all over the world and of different backgrounds, which has created a diverse but intense player base.

The biggest issue for Riot Games in its first years of existence was integration: it is usually quite daunting and time-consuming for new players to fully understand both the mechanics of the game and all elements of its sub-culture and discourse. However, in terms of this issue, Arcane provides a smart solution: it delivers a compelling introduction to several characters’ backstories without the necessity for prior knowledge on anything League-related.

Can Arcane fully succeed in bridging the gap between long-time League fans and newcomers unfamiliar with the game’s complex universe? The show itself, with two seasons and eighteen episodes in total, does not constitute a large enough body of work to bring in droves of new fanatics into the roster. Instead, Arcane is merely the first step towards a grand expansion that seeks to elevate Riot Games into a transmedia conglomerate. By successfully going beyond gaming, Riot could rely on diversified revenue streams and protect itself from an unpredictable market. What’s more, franchise-building takes time but also offers longevity—if Arcane is just the start, it is more than clear that fans are in for quality content for years to come.

Alas, why does Riot need to attract new audiences when it is estimated that over 180 million people worldwide play League? Well, Riot’s workplace culture has been under fire for years, with several allegations of sexism and harassment igniting public backlash and leading to costly legal battles. Here is where Arcane comes into play as an opportunity to shift this narrative: viewers’ admiration for the show’s creativity and execution has put Riot’s potential as a creative leader in the spotlight again.

While discussing Arcane’s pioneering impact, it is also important to mention that the show is not the first instance of Riot’s attempts to diversify its content. The franchise has released numerous original songs in collaboration with prominent musicians such as Imagine Dragons, (G)-IDLE, and more, serving as the testing ground for the production of larger projects, such as Arcane.

Now, it is essential to delve a little deeper into what makes Arcane special beyond its impact on Riot Games. Remaining spoiler-free for both seasons, here are the three main aspects that make it a major hit: its animation, original music, and deconstruction of traditional frameworks. The art of the show is not only intricate but is also a narrative device on its own. Produced by the French company Fortiche, it blends 2D and 3D styles. This visual dichotomy enhances Arcane’s main premise of class disparity and conflict while also assisting the audience in understanding emotional states such as Jinx’s hallucinations.

Furthermore, music in the show is never just a backdrop—an already established in-house music team combined with many partnerships with artists has allowed for the production of an Emmy-nominated soundtrack.

Finally, what Arcane really does best is not fit in a mould; unlike many productions, it is a show that respects its audience. Complex character development, turbulent relationships, and morally grey situations are left to the viewers’ interpretation—there is no excess moralising for the sake of making the narrative palatable, and that shows us a world where actions and consequences are quite realistic. There is far more to be said about the brilliance of Arcane, but some things are best experienced firsthand by the viewer.