A brand new League of Legends cinematic from Arcane animation studio Fortiche units up the story to come back within the recreation’s first season of 2025, and serves in some ways as a continuation of a few of the plot threads from the critically acclaimed Netflix present.

League of Legends’ first season of 2025 is about to start January 9 and will probably be all about Noxus, one of many main political empires on the earth of Runeterra and one which turned a much bigger a part of Arcane season 2’s story. The cinematic exhibits a number of completely different tales unfolding, as acquainted League of Legends characters like Katarina seems to be to assassinate a goal and is stopped by Elise, Noxus common Darius confronts the ice troll Trundle, and Arcane’s Mel–who shouldn’t be but a playable champion in Riot’s MOBA–looks to make her return to Noxus. Mel is at the moment playable in Teamfight Ways, and is closely rumored to be added to League of Legends correct as a part of 2025 Season 1, Welcome to Noxus.

As is the case with Arcane, Fortiche brings the world of League of Legends to life in beautiful style, with an absurd consideration to element and a barely stylized look that offers every character extra life and character than they’ve ever had earlier than.

It is on the finish of the cinematic that Arcane followers get a few of the greatest connections to Fortiche’s present. Vladimir and LeBlanc, members of the Black Rose shadow group that performed a big position in Arcane season 2’s story, talk about “making the most of the chance that has washed up our shores” presumably with reference to Mel. LeBlanc even straight references the occasions of Arcane when she says “Piltover was a lesson.” She then tells Vladimir that the Black Rose’s subsequent transfer “should be bolder, not safer.”

Riot is placing an enormous emphasis on story for its seasons in 2025, with every of the 12 months’s three seasons specializing in a distinct area of the world of Runeterra. Every season could have its personal theme and storylines that may function an “anchor” for brand new content material added over the course of the 12 months, together with new champions, modes, skins, and gameplay modifications. A few of these gameplay modifications in Welcome to Noxus embody a Noxus model of the sport’s tried-and-true Summoner’s Rift. The map will embody a brand new boss monster, respawning towers, and a brand new Feats of Power system that may buff the boots of the workforce that manages to safe two out of three Feats like scoring first blood or destroying the primary tower of the sport.

As for the way forward for Arcane, the present’s creators mentioned the plan was for it to all the time final two seasons and that there will not be a Season 3. Nonetheless, Arcane co-creator Christian Linke additionally said spin-off exhibits revolving round Arcane characters and areas like Noxus, Demacia, and Ionia, are all within the works. Riot co-founder Marc Merrill later clarified that Linke meant the three areas would every be “explored” however would not essentially have their very own present, although he additionally mentioned Riot was, in actual fact, “exploring a bunch of various exhibits (and video games).”