More than a decade ago, a small group of Rioters started working on something ambitious: a card game that could stand toe-to-toe with giants we loved like MTG and (later) Hearthstone.
It became one of Riot’s first real R&D projects, born out of a deep love for the genre and a belief that we could make something special for players. And five years ago, Legends of Runeterra shipped (big thanks to JJ, Yip, and the whole Project Bacon crew).
Looking back, we’re incredibly proud of what LoR stands for and of the team who built it, the players who believed in it, and the journey we've taken together. LoR is one of the most generous, player-first models the genre had (and has) ever seen. It was bold. It wasn’t perfect. There were a number of misses and even more learnings. But even when the outcome missed the mark, the effort was pure and the quality was high. I'd always rather we fight for something real and fall short than play it safe and win at nothing.
Four years in, it became clear that players were overwhelmingly engaging with PvE, pointing us toward a new north star with a smaller team. While that was a significant pivot for us and players, I’m proud of the team’s efforts to keep PvP online and continue regular rotations, even in this new era of LoR.
Today, LoR is powered by an incredibly scrappy and passionate team. It is like a real small indie company living inside our larger "small indie company." Huge shoutout to
@RiotShen1138 and everyone who is keeping the dream alive and delivering meaningful content to players.
And that dream is still growing. Over the past year, the Path of Champions has evolved into something special, shaped by the creativity, feedback, and love of the LoR community. We’ve been building a strong foundation for future experiments like events and working with players to make the experience deeper and more replayable. LoR isn’t just surviving or in “maintenance mode,” it’s adapting, growing, and laying down new roots for the future.
LoR’s journey is still unfolding. Like any good TPOC run, it’s had surprise encounters, unexpected bosses, and forks in the road. It’s a story made possible by players who believed in it and that belief continues to shape what’s possible. LoR continues to evolve, and its DNA lives on not just in this game, but in the way we build and think across Riot. To me, LoR feels like a reminder of what Riot is always trying to be: bold enough to take risks, humble enough to learn, and committed enough to keep going when the road isn’t easy. The quest to deliver great things for players never ends.
Happy 5 years,
@PlayRuneterra. GGWP.