Riot Games has found itself at the center of a new controversy—this time due to a failed promo video created using artificial intelligence to commemorate the third anniversary of Wild Rift in China. After a wave of negative feedback from fans, the developer removed the video from the Chinese platform Weibo, where it was initially released.

Fans Criticized the Plot, Visuals, and Intentions

The short film featured familiar League of Legends champions—Jinx, Yasuo, Ezreal, Seraphine, and the recently added Aurora. The heroes battled monsters and then performed on stage. However, users quickly criticized the video for its meaningless plot, "uncanny valley" style visual effects, unnatural character expressions, and an abundance of empty frames with a faceless crowd.

Fans also pointed out the discrepancy between the battle scenes and the characters' actual abilities in the game and questioned the very publication of material of such quality:

This is a slap in the face to every artist who has been creating Runeterra all these years.

Commented one user on X 

Riot Games Faces a Crisis of Trust

The unsuccessful video was yet another blow to Riot's reputation in 2025. Previously, players had widely criticized changes to the free rewards system, rising skin prices, and the reuse of visual effects in premium content.

The company also faced waning interest in the esports scene—especially in Western regions, and in July officially canceled the development of Hytale, a Minecraft-style project.

No Comments from Riot

So far, Riot Games has not commented on the removal of the video or the use of AI in its creation. However, the situation clearly shows that the attempt to cut production costs has resulted in a reputational hit. And while League of Legends itself remains stable, the entire Riot ecosystem is experiencing a period of uncertainty—with fans increasingly demanding respect for quality and creativity, not just monetization.