Riot Games Co-Chairman Marc Merrill recently shared that the developer is resetting their development for their League of Legends MMO.
Key art of Ashe from League of Legends, (2009) Riot Games
In a lengthy thread on X, Merrill made the announcement and explained just why the company is resetting their development.
First, he posted that the company is still developing the game, “We know many of you are hungry for news about the Riot Games MMO project, and we really appreciate your patience and the incredible support you’ve shown us so far. I’m writing to update you today on where we’re at. And before anyone panics: yes, we are still working on the game.”
Marc Merrill on X
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Next, he shared it was being reset, “After a lot of reflection and discussion, we’ve decided to reset the direction of the project some time ago. This decision wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. The initial vision just wasn’t different enough from what you can play today.”
“We don’t believe you all want an MMO that you’ve played before with a Runeterra coat of paint; to truly do justice to the potential of Runeterra and to meet the incredibly high expectations of players around the world, we need to do something that truly feels like a significant evolution of the genre.,” he continued. “This is a huge challenge, but one that our team of deeply passionate MMO players and game development veterans is incredibly motivated to pursue.”
Marc Merrill on X
From there, he announced the MMO has a brand new Executive Producer in Fabrice Condominas, “With this new direction, I’m excited to introduce Fabrice Condominas as the new Executive Producer of the MMO. Fabrice’s experience as a player and passion for creating immersive worlds is extraordinary. Having led big projects at Riot, BioWare, and EA, he brings a fresh perspective and a shared commitment to excellence that will guide our team as they continue on this difficult journey.”
Condominas previously was the Lead Producer on Mass Effect 3: Omega and Mass Effect: Andromeda at BioWare. He was also a producer on Mass Effect 3. He also worked on Star Wars: Squadrons for EA.
Marc Merrill on X
After announcing Condominas as the new Executive Producer, Merrill shared, “We started laying the groundwork for this pivot some time ago and over the last year under Vijay Thakkar’s management, we built key components of the technical foundation to create the kind of ambitious game we’re talking about. We’re grateful for Vijay’s leadership and that he’ll be part of the game leadership team going forward as our Technical Director.”
Marc Merrill on X
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Next, he noted that there will likely not be any updates on the game in quite some time and that they will be “going dark.”
Merrill posted, “Resetting our development path also means we will be ‘going dark’ for a long time—likely several years. This silence will help provide space for the team to focus on the incredible amount of work ahead of them. We understand the excitement and anticipation that surrounds new information, but we ask for your trust during this silent phase.”
“Remember, ‘no news is good news,’ as it means we’re hard at work, pouring our hearts and souls into making something that we hope you’ll love,” Merrill attempted to reassure players.
Marc Merrill on X
Finally, he concluded, “Thank you for believing in us and for your patience. We’re incredibly committed to this mission and we look forward to the adventure ahead and the stories we’ll tell together.”
Marc Merrill on X
This update from Merrill comes about two years after the game’s previous Executive Producer Greg Street noted the game might not ever ship. Street shared on X back in April 2022, “There is no guarantee this game will ship. We are optimistic, but you just never know until it does. However, assuming it does, this will be the fourth major franchise I have worked on (AoE, WoW, LoL), and likely the last. And I am very okay with that. It will be a good final act.”
He added, “I started to say things like magnum opus, but that sounds like it is my vision, and it very much comes from the team. I just steer the ship and watch for sea monsters.”
Greg Street on X
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In another post he did indicate that things were progressing well, “Things are going super well. I am just being honest that Riot’s game standards are high and so are the expectations of players. We won’t ship a disappointing game.”
Greg Street on X
Street announced his departure from Riot Games in March 2023 explaining it was due to “personal and professional considerations” noting he “experienced some devastating personal losses last year and I wanted to be closer to my surviving family.”
Greg Street on X
However, he did attempt to reassure gamers writing, “The MMO is in good hands and it’s the right time to hand over the reigns for the next phase I plan to stay in game development and I have had a number of exciting opportunities presented to me already. And I will be with you all playing the Riot MMO when it comes out.”
Greg Street on X
Street did share his thoughts about Riot going in a new direction with the game writing, “I wish the Riot MMO well. They have a great world to explore and the team is truly top notch. I will definitely play the crap out of it. Two of the reasons I founded my own studio are (1) I don’t want to take 10 years to develop a game, and (2) I want to develop in the open with players along for the journey.”
He concluded, “Neither strategy is right or wrong. I just know my current approach plays to our studio’s strengths. No going dark here.”
Greg Street on X
What do you make of Riot Games resetting their direction on their League of Legends MMO and going radio silent for the foreseeable future?
