Fresh off Arcane season 2, Project K is a League of Legends trading card game, but it's not just a physical version of Legends of Runeterra

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Riot Games reckons "we've created the best social TCG out there"

A screenshot of someone holding a hand of Project K cards in the reveal video for Riot Games' new TCG.
(Image credit: Riot Games)

Buckle up, League of Legends fans - Riot Games has unveiled an all-new, physical trading card game that will begin its staggered release early next year, continuing the fresh League hype generated by Arcane season two. 

It's called Project K, and we've been given our first details about it courtesy of a video from some of its developers. Game director Dave Guskin explains that, notably, Project K isn't just "a physical version of the fantastic Legends of Runeterra," Riot's digital card game that launched in 2020. However, Guskin says that the new game "does inherit some of the rich champion design philosophies" from it, and will feature "incredible art drawn from all over the Runeterra IP and other League IP games." 

As for the game itself, it'll be possible to play it 1v1, but it sounds like there'll be a lot of different ways to approach it, too. "Whether your jam is team 2v2 battles or free-for-alls, a way to relax with friends or go all-in on alliances, backstabbing and betrayals, we think we've created the best social TCG out there, and something you will really enjoy," explains Guskin. 

Obviously, this is big for any tabletop game fans, especially since it's being advertised as something that can be either highly competitive or entirely casual depending on how you approach it, but there's the collectible part of it too that's sure to be enticing for any League lovers. Everyone knows that opening a pack of cards and being greeted with a rare one you've been looking for is a thrill, so there'll likely be plenty of people who get into Project K for this reason alone. 

Either way, it sounds like Riot is planning to go all-in on making sure Project K sticks, as executive producer Chengran Chai says that the game thriving "means more than just product stocked on shelves." Riot wants "competitive play that reaches from the store level all the way up to national-level tournaments and maybe even global events.

"We will invest in Project K and make it worthwhile for you to invest your time and energy into it too," Chai continues.

As for its release, Riot explains that it'll be staggered across different regions, starting with its debut in China in early 2025 – the developer hopes to share news about a global launch soon. 

We'll just have to see if Project K has what it takes to be one of the best card games when it rolls out. 

Catherine Lewis
Catherine Lewis
Deputy News Editor

I'm GamesRadar+'s Deputy News Editor, working alongside the rest of the news team to deliver cool gaming stories that we love. After spending more hours than I can count filling The University of Sheffield's student newspaper with Pokemon and indie game content, and picking up a degree in Journalism Studies, I started my career at GAMINGbible where I worked as a journalist for over a year and a half. I then became TechRadar Gaming's news writer, where I sourced stories and wrote about all sorts of intriguing topics. In my spare time, you're sure to find me on my Nintendo Switch or PS5 playing through story-driven RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 5 Royal, nuzlocking old Pokemon games, or going for a Victory Royale in Fortnite.