Riot Games has taken down a promotional video created for League of Legends: Wild Rift’s third anniversary following backlash over its apparent use of AI-generated visuals.

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

The video, originally uploaded to Riot’s Chinese social media channels on August 1, featured stylized sequences of champions including Seraphine, Jinx, Ezreal, Yasuo, and Aurora. While it was intended to be a celebratory cinematic, players quickly noticed glaring inconsistencies in the animation. Misshapen objects, distorted backgrounds, jittery text, and off-model character appearances led many to conclude that the trailer had been generated using AI tools rather than traditional animation methods.

Discussion around the trailer spread quickly across Reddit, Twitter, and other gaming forums. One post on the League of Legends subreddit labeled the video “unofficial-looking,” while others criticized Riot for lowering quality standards on a major milestone for the game. The most common sentiment centered around the perceived lack of effort and transparency in producing the content.

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

Riot has not issued an official statement addressing the trailer or confirming whether AI was used. However, the video was removed from official channels within a day of its posting. Screenshots and reuploads continue to circulate across fan communities, with many expressing disappointment in the decision to release the cinematic in the first place.

This is not the first time Riot has been questioned over its use of AI in content. Earlier this year, Wild Rift’s reveal trailer for the champion Sivir drew similar scrutiny. Viewers believed the narration sounded AI-generated, but Riot later clarified that the voice work was human and had been recorded under limited direction, resulting in a flat, unnatural delivery.

The incident has reignited ongoing discussions about the use of AI in game development and marketing. Fans have expressed concerns over studios using generative tools to cut costs, especially in areas traditionally handled by artists and animators. Riot has not commented on whether this approach will continue in future Wild Rift content. As of now, Wild Rift’s third anniversary event is ongoing, but the cinematic meant to promote it is no longer available through official sources.