Riot Games recently released the first issue of Ashe: Warmother, marking its entrance into the world of entertainment and storytelling. This collaboration with Marvel Entertainment will bring forth multiple comic series, signifying a significant milestone for Riot and the gaming industry as a whole.
Riot’s head of creative development, Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street, stated that these comics are just the beginning and that Riot has ambitious plans for storytelling. However, it is important to note that this partnership does not mean that League of Legends will be featured in the Marvel cinematic universe.
We had several potential partners in mind, but we wanted to fully develop our strategy before finalizing any partnership. Our approach is to expose people to our universe through League and our future games. However, we don’t want to limit ourselves to just games. Comics provide an excellent opportunity to test out stories, explore the world, and potentially attract new players. Marvel’s expertise in comic publishing and distribution aligns perfectly with our goals.
The stories coming out of the Marvel deal will fall into three categories. Firstly, we aim to expand on familiar stories from League of Legends, providing more detailed narratives and visuals. Ashe’s story falls under this category. Secondly, we want to explore what happens in the future of the League universe and how different champions interact with each other. Lastly, we are considering stories set in alternate universes like Odyssey, PROJECT, or K/DA.
This partnership holds immense significance for the future of League and the Runeterra IP. As we realized the rich potential of our IP, we understood players’ deep attachment to the characters and the immense number of stories we could create. We have big plans for the future, and if our creations resonate with players, we will continue to expand even further.
While we do have explorations in other mediums, we can’t reveal them at this time. However, comics provide a unique combination of visuals and written narratives. In the Ashe series, readers can experience the Freljord geography, clothing styles, architecture, and more. We hope to explore various locations and tell diverse stories.
Although we can’t disclose specific details, there are indeed significant plans on the horizon to develop the League IP.
When we revitalized the lore in 2017, we knew there was much foundational work to be done before advancing the timeline with stories. Aspects such as the distances between cities, whether champions knew about each other, or even the existence of a world map were still being established. We still have work to do, such as determining the currencies of Runeterra and their languages and holidays. Comics help us answer these questions and provide a platform for further world-building.
While we can’t reveal which champions we will explore after Ashe, we are committed to maintaining a long-lasting relationship with Marvel. There are numerous untold stories in our universe waiting to be shared.
Parallel universes, such as the High Noon and K/DA universes, will undoubtedly be explored in the Marvel comics. We understand that players are eager to learn more about these alternate universes, and they are a fun creative space for us. We can delve into how different parts of Runeterra manifest in various universes.
Odin Shafer, Riot’s own writer, is responsible for Ashe’s story. For future series, we will definitely collaborate with Marvel’s talented writers and artists. Partnering with Marvel provides us with access to their fantastic pool of talent.
In conclusion, Riot Games’ collaboration with Marvel Entertainment represents a major milestone in IP development for the gaming industry. The Ashe: Warmother comic series is just the beginning of Riot’s storytelling journey. Through these comics, Riot aims to expand on existing stories, move the universe into the future, and explore alternate universes. The partnership with Marvel allows for the perfect combination of storytelling and visual exploration.