Riot Games, the developer behind the popular multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends, has announced its latest expansion into the world of gaming: a physical trading card game set in the League universe. Codenamed Project K, the game is currently in development and is slated for release in China in early 2025, with a global release pending.

According to Riot, Project K boasts unique gameplay that is best experienced with friends and in person. The game's development is being led by director Dave Guskin and producer Chengran Chai, although details about the game's mechanics and features remain scarce. A series of images released by Riot provides a glimpse into the game's design, but much remains to be seen.

This move marks the latest in a series of spinoffs from the League of Legends franchise, which has already seen the release of mobile games like Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift, as well as the Netflix series Arcane and the competitive fighting game 2XKO, set to launch next year. However, not all of these bets have paid off, with Riot announcing in January that it would be cutting over 500 jobs, including the shutdown of Riot Forge Games, a publishing label for indie games set inside the League universe. The mobile card game Legends of Runeterra, launched in 2020, was also impacted, with Riot stating that it "hasn't performed as well as we need it to."

The announcement of Project K comes at a time when card games are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, driven in part by the success of the new smartphone version of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It remains to be seen whether Project K will be able to capitalize on this trend and find success in the competitive world of trading card games.

One key factor in Project K's success will be its ability to find the right publishing partners for a global release. Riot has stated that it is "taking its time" to find the right partners, but has not provided a timeline for when fans can expect to see the game on shelves outside of China. As more information becomes available, fans of League of Legends and trading card games alike will be eagerly watching to see how Project K develops.

In the meantime, the announcement of Project K serves as a reminder of the enduring popularity of the League of Legends franchise, which continues to expand into new areas and attract new fans. With its unique gameplay and focus on in-person play, Project K has the potential to carve out a niche in the world of trading card games and further cement League of Legends' status as a gaming powerhouse.