Legends of Runeterra failed to capture players’ passion in the same way as their other titles because it did not put champions at the center of attention. That is the frank analysis of Chengran Chai, executive producer of Riftbound, Riot Games’ new physical card game. In a recent interview, he explained that while LoR had solid gameplay and generous monetization, the champions’ identity was too weak. Because of this, the digital game did not generate the expected revenue, despite its initial popularity. Now, in January 2026, the company seeks to correct this flaw with its physical project, which promises to place icons like Sett and Kai’Sa as absolute protagonists.
As a result of this reflection, the design of Riftbound was meticulously planned so that players feel the same excitement of “building a Sett deck” if they consider themselves “mains” of the character. Unlike LoR, which could be adjusted with patches, the physical game requires perfect balance from launch. Therefore, Riot positions its new TCG between Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering in complexity, seeking greater accessibility without sacrificing strategic depth. The second collection, Spiritforged, is already available in China and has an international release scheduled for February 13, promising to shake up the collectible card market.
The Physical Path and the Search for the “Sweet Spot”
Riot Games is betting its chips on the physical market with Riftbound, a terrain where monetization, by nature, is more aggressive than in digital. However, the challenge goes beyond the business model. Since there is no way to correct printed cards with a simple update, each set needs to be balanced so that new cards dethrone the powerful ones from previous sets, avoiding a stagnant meta. Chengran Chai believes the company has found a “sweet spot” in design, reducing the common entry barrier of TCGs without oversimplifying the experience. In other words, the strategy is to attract both casual fans and competitive players seeking an extra challenge.
Thus, Riftbound emerges not only as a new product but as a direct response to the lessons learned from Legends of Runeterra. The remaining question is whether this formula, which places champions as unquestionable stars and seeks a delicate balance between simplicity and strategy, will be able to win over the Brazilian public, traditionally loyal to giants like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic. The international debut next month will give the first major answer and show if Riot has finally gotten it right in the competitive world of card games.
