Riot Games and its parent company, Tencent, are facing criticism after releasing a surprising AI-generated trailer for League of Legends: Wild Rift. The trailer, celebrating the game’s third anniversary, was first shared by a Reddit user and quickly drew backlash from fans. Many expressed disappointment, fueling discussions on social media.
After being posted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, the trailer was removed due to the uproar. Despite this, players have been sharing it across other sites. The trailer features familiar characters such as Jinx, Seraphine, and Yasuo, but the animations were jarring, leading to comments like, “It looks like a cheap knockoff.” Fans noted bizarre facial expressions and awkward movements reminiscent of poorly animated AI content.
The audio also didn’t hit the mark, with the lyrics and music feeling out of place. This has raised concerns about Riot’s future direction for the game. Many players think relying on AI instead of professional animators shows a lack of respect for the artists involved in creating the League of Legends universe over the years.
User reactions have been strong. Some described the video as disappointing and a missed opportunity. Others pointed out that while AI could enhance content creation, it should not replace artists who pour their creativity into the project.
Interestingly, the recent trend of using AI in gaming isn’t confined to Riot. Companies like Activision have also admitted to using AI in their games after fan scrutiny. In fact, a survey showed that around 67% of gamers believe AI will change the industry drastically, emphasizing the growing conversation around AI’s role in creative fields.
As companies adopt AI in their marketing and production processes, the debate continues. While some, like Microsoft, are diving into AI technologies, others, such as Mojang, have firmly stated they will not integrate AI into their development.
With discussions around AI shaping the future of gaming, it’s essential for companies to strike a balance. Fans want innovation, but they also value the artistry that comes from human creators. Close attention to audience feedback may help steer the industry in a direction everyone can appreciate.
