Riot Games has kicked off the new year with the first of three League of Legends season launches for 2025, and with it comes an absolutely breathtaking cinematic. This time, the animation was handled by Fortiche, the same studio behind Arcane, and the result is a visually stunning five-minute video that has fans buzzing. While the cinematic is intended to set the tone for the new season, many are convinced it’s more than just a game promo—some believe it’s a teaser for a League of Legends TV series centered around Noxus.
Arcane References Fuel Speculation
A few key moments in the cinematic seem to connect directly to Arcane. One of the most notable comes when Vladimir and LeBlanc, members of the Black Rose, discuss seizing an opportunity that has “washed up on our shores”—a line some believe is referencing Mel. Another moment that caught fans’ attention is LeBlanc’s comment that “Piltover was a lesson,” a clear nod to Arcane’s setting.
Ever since Arcane’s first season concluded, fans have been eager to see if other Runeterra regions will receive their own shows. That idea was given more weight when Christian Linke, Riot’s creative director and Arcane showrunner, confirmed in an interview with League content creator Necrit that Noxus, Ionia, and Demacia are being considered for spin-off series. With the release of this cinematic, many are wondering if the Noxus-based season of League is actually a hint at the long-awaited Noxus-focused show.
Riot’s Response
Andrei Van Roon, head of League Studio (known as RiotMeddler on Reddit), was quick to shut down the speculation. He clarified that the cinematic was meant to establish themes for Noxus in the upcoming season and introduce a plot that will play out in League and related game content—not in a TV series.
But looking at the quality and detail of the animation, fans aren’t entirely convinced. While there’s no direct storyline set up for a show or any official announcement about a release, some find it hard to believe that Fortiche would go to the effort of designing characters like Elise, Katarina, Vladimir, Darius, LeBlanc, and Trundle without the possibility of using them in a future series.
What’s Next for League?
Regardless of whether this cinematic is a sneak peek at a future show, Riot has confirmed that some of these new designs will be reflected in the game. Elise and Katarina will receive skins based on their cinematic appearances as part of the upcoming Masque of the Black Rose skin line, along with a visual update for LeBlanc.
Meanwhile, League’s latest season officially launches on January 9, bringing a full Noxian overhaul to the Rift, including a revamped map and all-new Noxian War Turrets. Whether Riot is truly keeping a Noxus-based show under wraps or not, fans will be keeping a close eye on what comes next—while likely rewatching Arcane in the meantime.
