Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill has offered another rare glimpse into the mindset behind the company’s long-awaited League of Legends MMO, describing the massive project as the studio’s internal “Grail” quest.
Speaking during his Storytime keynote at PAX West 2026 on September 4, Merrill acknowledged the enormous expectations surrounding Riot’s attempt to build an MMO in the world of Runeterra. Rather than downplaying the challenge, he made it clear that Riot understands just how difficult the road ahead could be.
In brief:
- Riot internally refers to its Runeterra MMO as the “Grail” quest.
- Marc Merrill says Riot knows what MMO players hope to see and now needs to execute on that vision.
- The project remains in development following a major creative reset.
- Merrill’s comments arrive shortly after Riot announced the end of active development for 2XKO.
Riot Is All In on Its League of Legends MMO
During the PAX West talk, Merrill said Riot knows what players’ “hopes and dreams” are when it comes to the MMO. The bigger question is whether the team can successfully execute on those expectations.
He explained that Riot jokingly calls the MMO its “Grail” internally, comparing development to a dangerous quest where many brave knights might fall along the way. Despite the risks, Merrill said the team is committed to chasing that goal.
The comparison gives some perspective on just how ambitious Riot sees the project. This is not being positioned as simply League of Legends turned into a traditional MMORPG. Riot previously reset the MMO’s direction because its original vision did not feel different enough from existing games in the genre.
Expectations for Riot’s MMO Remain Extremely High
The Runeterra MMO is currently being led by executive producer Fabrice Condominas, with Riot also bringing in experienced developers who previously worked on World of Warcraft.
And that pedigree has naturally fueled comparisons with Blizzard’s MMO giant, but Riot has yet to reveal gameplay, a formal title, or a release date.
Merrill’s comments also arrive shortly after Riot confirmed that active development on 2XKO will end in December 2026. Riot said the fighting game costs substantially more to operate than it generates and failed to achieve the player retention needed for long-term sustainability.
As such, that decision may make some fans more cautious about Riot’s ambitious MMO plans. Still, Merrill’s “Grail” comparison suggests Riot has no intention of lowering its ambitions. The Runeterra MMO still remains one of the gaming industry’s biggest unanswered questions, as of writing.
