Recently, Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill gave an interview discussing the League of Legends MMO. He acknowledged that developing such a game presents numerous challenges, but the team remains willing to give it a try. He believes that Runeterra already has a massive player base, with many players familiar with this world and eager to live within it.
On the Lemonade Stand podcast, Merrill acknowledged that external concerns about the project are well-founded. MMO development is massive in scale, player expectations are high, and the audience is often considered relatively limited. The interviewer also noted that as some veteran players age, their available playtime decreases, and major titles like World of Warcraft already exist in the market. Merrill said there are indeed many seemingly reasonable arguments for why the team shouldn't develop this game.
He also pointed out that Riot has been building Runeterra for a long time, with a large global audience already familiar with and fond of its characters, factions, and world. The company also possesses a player base, revenue streams, and development teams. He stated that players wish to live in this world, and the team aims to provide such an experience.
Riot's other title, 2XKO, has announced the cessation of active development, leading some players to remain cautious about the MMO's prospects. Regarding the project itself, Merrill believes the key lies in creating a work worthy of the League of Legends IP; attempting to please everyone could cause the game to lose its clear direction due to excessive compromise.