Riot Games is officially expanding its League of Legends universe into the world of trading card games. After months of speculation under the codename “Project K,” the studio has revealed the title of its long-awaited card game: Riftbound: League of Legends Trading Card Game. The game’s debut set, titled Origins, is set to launch this summer in China, with an English-language release following in October 2025.
The new game marks Riot’s bold entrance into the competitive trading card game (TCG) industry—a space dominated by hits like Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Pokémon TCG. Riftbound is designed to offer a rich, flexible card game experience, drawing from the lore, champions, and action-packed feel of the League of Legends franchise.
“We’ve been incredibly humbled by the excitement from players around the world who can’t wait to play Riftbound,” said Chengran Chai, Executive Producer at Riot Games. According to Chai, the development team has taken fan feedback to heart, focusing heavily on polished UI and original artwork to ensure that the experience meets community expectations.
The name “Riftbound” is meant to evoke Summoner’s Rift, the iconic battlefield of League of Legends, while also suggesting the fast-paced action and strategic depth of a trading card game. Dave Guskin, the game’s director, shared that although the name was originally used by indie developer Barrel Smash Studios, Riot was able to secure it through an agreement with the smaller studio.
When Riftbound launches, players will be able to dive into several gameplay formats, including 1v1 duels, 2v2 team battles, and free-for-all matches. The Origins set will debut with over 300 cards, featuring well-known champions like Annie, Garen, Jinx, Lee Sin, Lux, Master Yi, Viktor, Volibear, and Yasuo.
The game will be supported by physical distribution and organized play, thanks to Riot’s partnership with UVS Games, a long-standing player in the tabletop gaming scene. Demos and official matches will begin rolling out at Riot-hosted events and at major tabletop gaming conventions throughout the year.
Riot has already detailed a few of the starting products players can expect. The Proving Grounds Starter Deck will feature champions such as Lux, Annie, Master Yi, and Garen, giving newcomers a solid foundation. Additionally, Origins Champion Decks will be pre-built 56-card decks themed around champions like Viktor, Jinx, and Lee Sin, offering a blend of units, spells, gear, runes, and battlegrounds.
Players will also be able to build and enhance their decks through 14-card booster packs containing a range of card rarities, opening the door to deep customization and strategic play. The game’s design promises accessible fun for casual players and intricate mechanics for hardcore competitors.
With its strong backing, iconic IP, and growing fan anticipation, Riftbound is poised to make a major impact in the trading card world. Riot’s foray into TCGs seems not just ambitious—but potentially game-changing.
