In the universe of Riot Games’ “League of Legends,” Netflix’s “Arcane” series has been one of the most talked-about animated shows in recent times. Fans were left spellbound by the show’s unique visual style and captivating narrative, only to be shattered by at least one scene in Season 1. Their hearts sank once more when the show was terminated after completing only two seasons.
Contrary to speculations suggesting that “Arcane” was intended for five seasons from the start, its creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee have indicated that they had envisioned the narrative unfolding over only two seasons. Nevertheless, fans of the series are eager for more content, or perhaps even a separate spin-off, if Riot Games and Netflix decide to proceed with additional episodes. However, it remains unclear why such a continuation hasn’t been initiated yet.
By episode, ‘Arcane’ ranks among the most expensive TV shows ever created. It’s reported that a whopping $250 million was spent on its production and promotion, a significant figure even for industry giants like Riot Games and Netflix. Despite eager fans clamoring for more ‘Arcane’, and indeed, more content based on ‘League of Legends’, the exorbitant cost of Riot’s debut series is proving to be a hindrance.
How did Arcane cost so much money?
How can a series with just 18 episodes rack up a staggering quarter of a billion dollars? A significant factor contributing to the financial woes of “Arcane” was its prolonged development process. The project took off in 2016, when Riot Games approached French animation studio Fortiche to create a pilot. Given the intricate details involved in animating “Arcane”, the production costs were bound to be high. However, Riot’s production expenses may have been exacerbated by their lack of experience; they had never worked on a TV show before, and encountered various technical hurdles during the series’ production. The second season seemed to have faced particular challenges, with delays reportedly occurring frequently. These setbacks were likely due in part to Riot starting episode production before the scripts were completely written.
In addition to the labor involved in creating “Arcane”, Riot Games significantly increased its expenses with an extensive marketing blitz prior to the show’s release. Given the substantial fanbase of “League of Legends”, they opted not just to target existing fans, but also reach out to potential viewers through advertising. The cost of promoting the first season amounted to a hefty $60 million. When queried about the production costs, Riot’s co-founder and chief product officer Marc Merrill stated to Variety, “We feel confident that the investment was justified in delivering a show worthy of our players’ attention.” However, it seems that the financial and time commitment invested in “Arcane” has left little energy for similar projects within Riot.
Arcane’s high cost may have ruined other projects
Back in the early days when “Arcane” was first introduced, it was intended to spearhead a vast “League of Legends” entertainment empire. Towards the end of 2020, Riot Games decided to expand into producing their own shows and films, even going so far as to appoint Shauna Spenley as their global president of entertainment. At that time, Riot’s CEO, Nicolo Laurent, expressed his ambition to transform Riot into the “entertainment company of the 21st century.” He believed that gaming would become the mainstream market of the future and that gaming would serve as the hub of entertainment.
After four years, the only product that Riot Games has to display from its labor is “Arcane”. A brief intention to engage the Russo brothers for a movie never materialized. Both Laurent and Spenley have departed Riot, and the company hasn’t declared any further projects in the realm of shows or animation. In essence, it appears that they subtly closed down their entertainment division in 2023 and let go hundreds of employees throughout 2024. “Arcane” is almost an animated masterpiece, but regrettably, given its Emmy-winning status, it might be the only show fans will ever see in Riot’s universe.
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2025-07-24 00:30