Riot Games Teases New League of Legends Real-Life Trading Card Game: Rune Battleground

Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends, has hinted at the release of a real-life trading card game (TCG) through a video shared on Chinese social media platform Bilibili.

League of Legends has evolved significantly since its early days. Originally launching with only 40 champions, the game now boasts over 160 characters, various items, multiple game modes, and a wide range of cosmetics. Riot Games has also grown alongside its flagship title, expanding into new genres with a diverse portfolio of games.

Now, it appears Riot is set to enter the physical trading card game market. According to a video shared by the well-known leaker Big Bad Bear, a League of Legends TCG titled Rune Battleground is on the horizon. The video shows iconic League of Legends champion icons transforming into cards, hinting at the possibility of a collectible card game for fans.

This wouldn’t be Riot’s first foray into card games. They previously launched Legends of Runeterra, a digital card game based on the League of Legends universe. However, unlike a traditional TCG, Legends of Runeterra focused on digital card collecting through weekly challenges and regional battle passes, allowing players to play for free without a market for trading physical cards.

A physical TCG like Rune Battleground would be a significant shift for Riot, opening up opportunities for monetization through collectible card packs and potential card rarities, which could increase in value over time.