Riot confirms TCG Rune Battlegrounds exclusively for China

There are no plans for a Global release at this time.

Riot Games, the developers behind League of Legends, have teased their upcoming physical trading card game (TCG), Rune Battlegrounds, which is set to be released exclusively in China. 

The announcement came through a video shared on Chinese social media platform Bilibili, showcasing a glimpse of the new TCG that has sparked buzz among fans.

The video features iconic League of Legends champions, whose symbols collide and transform into cards, hinting at the mechanics behind Rune Battlegrounds. The trailer also featured the splash art of some of the popular champions like Ahri, Darius, Miss Fortune, Lee Sin, and Kai'Sa.

Despite the excitement around the TCG, Riot clarified on 10 September that there are no current plans for a global release.

Joe Hixson, Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Riot Games, took to X (formerly Twitter) to dispel any speculation about an international launch, stating:

" While we’re excited about this project, there aren’t any plans for a worldwide release at this time. Always possible things could change, but nothing planned right now," Joe said on X (formerly Twitter).

This isn't Riot’s first foray into card games. Previously, they launched Legends of Runeterra, a digital card game that translated the League of Legends universe into the strategic card game format. 

Unlike Rune Battlegrounds, Legends of Runeterra focused on a free-to-play model where players collected cards through in-game challenges and battle passes, with no trading or physical market involved.

However, Rune Battlegrounds aims to enter the physical TCG market, where players can collect, trade, and potentially profit from rare cards. 

This move would bring Riot into competition with some of the biggest names in the TCG industry, including Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon TCG, and the newly released Disney Lorcana.

TCG is a competitive market

The physical TCG space is highly competitive, and Rune Battlegrounds will need to stand out if it hopes to secure a foothold. Magic: The Gathering, in particular, dominates the fantasy card game market, while Pokémon TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh! appeal to both dedicated fans and broader audiences.

Riot’s challenge will be capturing the attention of TCG players who may not be familiar with League of Legends. 

Given that Rune Battlegrounds will initially be exclusive to China, it remains to be seen how well it will perform and whether it can attract a strong following. A successful launch in China could potentially open the door for a global release in the future.

For now, fans outside of China will have to wait and see if Riot expands the availability of Rune Battlegrounds to other regions.