Riot Games withdraws poorly produced AI video from League of Legends, sparking fan outrage and disbelief: "What in the world is real about this?"
League of Legends fans have expressed their displeasure with Riot Games' AI-generated anniversary video for the third anniversary of the mobile port Wild Rift in China. The video, released on Riot's official Weibo account, was met with criticism for its low quality, visually jarring visuals, and perceived disrespect for the community.
The video featured a mix of League of Legends characters, including Jinx from Arcane, Yasuo, Ezreal, K/DA's Seraphine, and Aurora. However, fans noted inconsistent character tattoos, melting goggles, floating lights, and other surreal elements that made it look like a "fever dream." Fans also criticized strange facial expressions, odd animations, and an overall uncanny valley effect that clashed with the usual polished, high-effort promotional content they expect from Riot.
The backlash was strong enough that Riot had to remove the video from its official Weibo account after posting it. Riot's executive producer issued a vague apology, calling it a “creator-made” video that “did not hit the mark.” However, the lack of explicit admission that the video was AI-generated further frustrated the community.
The controversy has sparked discussions about the quality of content produced by Riot Games, with some questioning the quality of champions and skins when the company allows such content. Players have also expressed deep scepticism about the spiralling prices of Riot's more expensive cosmetics and criticized the use of animations and particle effects borrowed from other skins.
The backlash to the League of Legends anniversary video may be an attempt by Riot to generate more revenue from its biggest spenders. However, the negative reaction to the video and Riot's response has raised broader concerns about the company's commitment to quality and respect for its community.
In addition to the controversy surrounding the anniversary video, Riot has faced other challenges recently. The company has experienced multiple rounds of layoffs in 2024, and players have criticized the quality of Riot's esports scene, which is beginning to buckle in the West. Riot's co-founder has also continued to mention the possibility of a League of Legends MMO, fuelling speculation about the game's future.
Meanwhile, Riot cancelled Hytale, the long-awaited Minecraft-style survival game it was publishing, adding to the concerns about the company's direction and priorities. With the League of Legends community calling for better quality content and more transparency from Riot, it remains to be seen how the company will respond to the recent controversies.
[1] League of Legends fans criticize Riot's AI-generated anniversary video for Wild Rift's third anniversary in China
[2] League of Legends fans slam Riot's AI-generated anniversary video for Wild Rift
[3] League of Legends fans are furious over Riot's AI-generated anniversary video for Wild Rift
[4] League of Legends fans slam Riot's AI-generated anniversary video for Wild Rift
[5] Riot Games apologises for poorly received AI-generated League of Legends anniversary video
[6] The controversy over Riot's AI-generated video raises questions about the company's commitment to quality and community respect.
[7] The backlash to Riot's League of Legends anniversary video highlights concerns about Riot's direction and priorities in the gaming industry, particularly in the genres of RPGs, esports, and MMOs.
