The ongoing and unrelenting popularity of online video games has refused to die down as more have found themselves investing in specific franchises or game series. League of Legends by Riot Games was first inspired by a map designed for Warcraft III. The free-to-play online game allows players to form a team of Champions and apply tactic-style cooperative efforts in order to earn their victory at the end of each match. The objective is to reach the enemy Nexus by making their way through a jungle, in which they must defeat monsters that stand in their paths. Once more of these monsters are slain, the team can continue towards their Nexus and claim their triumph. Each path of attack recommends a specialized lineup that will be most beneficial to a team once gameplay commences. If a team features Champions from key classes, they’re more likely to win matches. Those who play the game are able to climb through the rankings, upgrade their Champions, and earn rewards as they advance.
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Netflix is known for its infinite swarm of original content and its mass of collaborative efforts between other prominent brands. The association with other studios or larger names in popular culture has been given the opportunity for new in-house content to be created that expands past the Netflix banner. Arcane was first announced after League of Legends celebrated its tenth anniversary, and as such, was a gift given back to its fanbase. Media critics and casual fans alike were quick to praise the adult animation series for its accomplishments in world-building, storytelling, and action in a production outside the genre of live-action. Arguably one of the best video game adaptations ever, Arcane quickly earned a second season. Fans were gripped by the execution of the series and how it articulated its greater details. Arcane’s fated return to the small screens has yet to confirm a release date. In fact, Digital Spy reports it likely won’t be released until 2023. Until more details are released, here’s a look at how Arcane elevated the League of Legends video game franchise.
Arcane Gave a Proper Backstory to its Champions
Netflix
Often, there is a struggle when a series decides to backtrack upon its own work and tighten up the loose ends left in its lore. Others find themselves grappling with the ability to connect the past, present, and future of different franchises with clear delivery. Video game studios and developing teams greatly try to give their stories characters that bring them to life when it’s necessary, whether it be through supplemental material or in-game cut-scenes that inform players on vital background information. The adaptation process of a game that has solidified itself as an outlasting staple across the video game community can result in apprehensive fans. Sonic the Hedgehog’s live-action release received praise after the character design was reworked, but Assassin’s Creed could not please its fanbase cinematically due to the gross disconnection from its source material. Netflix, in association with Riot Games, was able to succeed with Arcane as it gave a proper backstory to its beloved characters.
The act of Champions having their pre-League of Legends lives shared with a broader audience grants creative freedom while still keeping in touch with important locations, plot points, and other pieces of information drawn directly from the game in order to assure that Arcane is as accurate as possible. Netflix and Riot Games are keen on not undoing what League of Legends has established and have made changes that will not impact the ongoing continuum of the storyline that players have known to be the backbone of the game. Instead, Arcane takes what it needs and gives where there could be more exposition. Vi and Jinx sit at the heart of the show, though that show is not overturned and is forced to be theirs alone. Generous insight is given on how the world around them shaped who they are known to be in the games and, more significantly, elaborates on their characters. Ultimately, Arcane carefully knew its bounds. Instead of attempting to re-write the game and its characters themselves, it looked back on its Champions and their untold upbringings.
Public Interest in League of Legends Was Renewed
From a marketing perspective, the online video game industry must demand attention from its players. Industry oversaturation drowns out the older competition as fresher games catch the eye of gamers looking for a new franchise to dive into. League of Legends has existed for over a decade, meaning that there was a need to generate buzz around the game itself to save it from fizzling out of player fatigue. Arcane deviated significantly from the essence of gameplay that it would be enough to not only catch an audience’s attention, but to hold it captive as the first season released. With an abundance of time for fans to process the events of Arcane, there was a result in greater conversation around League of Legends. The game franchise dominated social media platforms and the popularity of the show resulted in the series becoming a talking point throughout a variety of online communities. Excitement around the Netflix series was the grand step needed to guide new players toward the game itself and encouraged former players to revisit League of Legends. Netflix was a necessary tool in marketing the game to an incoming generation of online gamers who were seeking the conviction to finally try League of Legends for themselves. The acceleration in League of Legends’ current relevance was prompted by Arcane after the series opened to positive reception.
Netflix and Riot Games Both Win
High demand in Arcane and its future season(s) indicate that Netflix and Riot Games can confidently move forward with their partnership. The law of demand ensures that as long as the show upholds its quality, there will be the request from restless viewers who are left craving more. The elevation for League of Legends would come from Netflix as their creative team feeds prospective in-game events, updated character designs, and the ability to incorporate characters who made their debut in Arcane into League of Legends itself. The fruitful future found in League of Legends’ most recent prosperity is promising for both Netflix and Riot Games. A symbiotic relationship between each entertainment giant can allow one to feed off the other where either party is satisfied. Netflix is able to generate new content centered around Arcane and League of Legends’ influence; Riot Games knows that there is security when contributing more to League of Legends following the overwhelming positivity in response to Arcane.
Netflix and its creative team can elevate the video game franchise as they heavy-handedly assist in introducing new concepts to the future of the game. They were also well aware that they have generated an Arcane fanbase that would expedite its subscriber count. RiotXArcane was a database that walked players through what to expect for Arcane-themed events that operated as a direct overlap between Netflix subscribers eager to play the game and those who have played the game and expressed interest in Arcane. Riot Games has been granted the chance to explore a multimedia universe of its own through traditional entertainment, and with Netflix in tow, looks forward to the future of its inter-platform franchise.
