Riot Games sparks backlash over AI League of Legends trailer
Wild Rift is a free-to-play MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) developed and published by Riot Games for smartphones. However, this should not be confused with the PC version of League of Legends.
To celebrate the game's third anniversary, Wild Rift China shared the AI-generated trailer featuring popular characters from the renowned franchise, including Aurora, Jinx, Seraphin, Ezreal, and Yasuo.
First allegedly shared on China's Weibo, the trailer flooded several other social media platforms with users criticizing Riot Games and Tencent for using AI to create it, as they compared it to other beloved animated League of Legends trailers and Netflix's masterpiece, Arcane.
Wild Rift China released a cinematic made using AI and it is diabolical 😭 To think this was an official release that several people approved of 🙄
It features Seraphine, Jinx, Aurora, Yasuo & Ezreal. pic.twitter.com/8FxtfdyL4S — Aroush (@AroushTheKween) August 4, 2025
Due to the backlash it received, Riot representatives were forced to take the trailer down. However, this didn't stop fans from sharing it on Western social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter). Why the backlash?
Gamers have raised concerns about the use of AI in video games due to the lack of its human touch and the possible layoffs of hardworking employees. Second, the trailer's art style was inconsistent, and the characters featured had off-putting facial expressions.
Moreover, random characters featured in the trailer looked like they were heavily generated using Pixar films as a reference. Several other fans also accused Riot of reportedly using AI for the song featured in the trailer due to its "mediocre and soulless lyrics."
Executive producer David Xu took to X and wrote, "Hey folks, yesterday we posted a creator-made video on our official Weibo channel that, frankly, did not hit the mark. When we post content on our official channels, it's on us to maintain a high quality bar and be clear about where it came from. Thank you for all the feedback, we can and will do better."
One fan wrote in response, "creator made infers they made it and not a machine btw."
Another added, "I don't think 'hit the mark' is the best choice of words tbh. It's clearly ai and the fact that it was ok'd and posted shows there's a lack of care somewhere."
First of all, Seraphine is a mess 😭 Girl what happened to your voice?
But in all honestly, it is so disappointing how Riot allowed this. This is a slap in the face for every artist who has worked to bring the world of Runterra to life through their art for the past 15 years! 😢 pic.twitter.com/yLE7XASKfI — Aroush (@AroushTheKween) August 4, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Will Daniel Radcliffe appear in HBO's Harry Potter series?
ALBAWABA - With the recent cast reveal of HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series, fans of the iconic franchise took to social media with questions about the possible return of Daniel Radcliffe as a cameo character, who played the boy who lived in the movies. Radcliffe, who played the boy who lived in the movie adaptations, recently opened up that he will not be appearing in the HBO series. The English actor said, "I'm very excited to have that torch passed, but I don't think it needs me to physically pass it." On the contrary, speculations flooded social media that Radcliffe is not coming back to the franchise over J.K. Rowling's controversy regarding her stance on transgender people. Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have all stood up for the Trans community, slamming Rowling's stance. Radcliffe recently wrote, "Transgender women are women." Daniel Radcliffe is passing down the Harry Potter torch to Dominic McLaughlin The upcoming HBO series is set to premiere in 2026 but has received mixed reactions among fans on social media, stating that the movies and books are more than enough, adding further that both mediums did a great job covering Potter's storyline. Several others stated that the Wizarding World is vast and filled with unexplored stories and settings, in contrast to Hogwarts, which fans got to explore even in more detail thanks to Avalanche's Hogwarts Legacy game. Dominic McLaughlin will be filling Radcliffe's shoes as the new Harry Potter alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The casting choices in the HBO version have been mostly positive. John Lithgow is set to play Professor Dumbledore alongside Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. The cast of HBO's 'HARRY POTTER' series:• Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter• Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger• Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley• John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore • Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape• Nick Frost as Hagrid • Janet McTeer as Minerva…
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Al Bawaba
In defense of Mafia: The Old Country (Review)
ALBAWABA - With the arrival of 2K and Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, opinions about the game flooded social media, as some fans raised concerns about where the iconic long-running franchise is heading with future titles. While the game hasn't received the same criticism as Mafia III, which received negative reviews due to its storyline, day one bugs, and repetitive gameplay, several concerns were raised regarding Mafia: The Old Country. First, the game's $50 pricetag didn't sit well with many due to its short 12-15 hour campaign. Many players said that they couldn't justify the price-to-hours-played ratio. Several others expected an open world game with side missions and a lot of content, similar to Mafia III. However, what they got instead was a story-driven linear game with minimal side content. Some reported crashes and performance issues. It's worth noting that the game crashed twice during our experience on PC. Hangar 13 did an exceptional job of recreating Italy's Sicily during the 1900s. While the world is visually stunning for its color palette and lighting, there hasn't been much to explore, but that's ok. Why? Not every game has to be a 100-hour open-world game. Mafia: The Old Country (2K/ Hangar 13) In what Mafia: The Old Country lacks, such as gameplay and exploration, it makes up for with a gripping storyline, excellent voice acting, well-written characters, and stunning graphics. The choice of cast and voice actors really elevated the title, which follows the story of a mine boy called Enzo, who ventures into the world of the Italian mafia after stumbling upon the Don Torrisi familia, as he makes his way up the ladder. While the gameplay doesn't break the mold, it was still enjoyable, especially the stealthy parts. In some areas, players can finish a level undetected if they wish to do so. Moreover, riding cars and horses across Sicily feels great, especially using the faster vehicles you unlock down the line. Mafia: The Old Country (2K/ Hangar 13) On the contrary, gunplay needs improvement, especially in the crosshair department. With some weapons, the crosshair opens up too much while aiming, making it a frustrating experience at times. In a world full of open world fatigue and AAA games creeping into the $80 pricetag, Mafia: The Old Country and other titles like our GOTY, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, are a breath of fresh air in 2025. Whether the price tag is worth it depends on you as a gamer and what you expect for $50. You can always pick it up later on sale or for a possible Game Pass and PlayStation Plus release. Verdict
Al Bawaba
06-08-2025
- Al Bawaba
Riot Games sparks backlash over AI League of Legends trailer
ALBAWABA - Riot Games and parent company Tencent recently sparked backlash from fans after publishing an AI-generated "League of Legends: Wild Rift" trailer, prompting a statement from Executive Producer David Xu. Wild Rift is a free-to-play MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) developed and published by Riot Games for smartphones. However, this should not be confused with the PC version of League of Legends. To celebrate the game's third anniversary, Wild Rift China shared the AI-generated trailer featuring popular characters from the renowned franchise, including Aurora, Jinx, Seraphin, Ezreal, and Yasuo. First allegedly shared on China's Weibo, the trailer flooded several other social media platforms with users criticizing Riot Games and Tencent for using AI to create it, as they compared it to other beloved animated League of Legends trailers and Netflix's masterpiece, Arcane. Wild Rift China released a cinematic made using AI and it is diabolical 😭 To think this was an official release that several people approved of 🙄 It features Seraphine, Jinx, Aurora, Yasuo & Ezreal. — Aroush (@AroushTheKween) August 4, 2025 Due to the backlash it received, Riot representatives were forced to take the trailer down. However, this didn't stop fans from sharing it on Western social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter). Why the backlash? Gamers have raised concerns about the use of AI in video games due to the lack of its human touch and the possible layoffs of hardworking employees. Second, the trailer's art style was inconsistent, and the characters featured had off-putting facial expressions. Moreover, random characters featured in the trailer looked like they were heavily generated using Pixar films as a reference. Several other fans also accused Riot of reportedly using AI for the song featured in the trailer due to its "mediocre and soulless lyrics." Executive producer David Xu took to X and wrote, "Hey folks, yesterday we posted a creator-made video on our official Weibo channel that, frankly, did not hit the mark. When we post content on our official channels, it's on us to maintain a high quality bar and be clear about where it came from. Thank you for all the feedback, we can and will do better." One fan wrote in response, "creator made infers they made it and not a machine btw." Another added, "I don't think 'hit the mark' is the best choice of words tbh. It's clearly ai and the fact that it was ok'd and posted shows there's a lack of care somewhere." First of all, Seraphine is a mess 😭 Girl what happened to your voice? But in all honestly, it is so disappointing how Riot allowed this. This is a slap in the face for every artist who has worked to bring the world of Runterra to life through their art for the past 15 years! 😢 — Aroush (@AroushTheKween) August 4, 2025
