‘Art over profits’: Riot Games co-founder responds to claims that ARCANE was a ‘financial miss’

Below we report the acclaimed animated series from Riot Games Arcane has struggled to recoup its massive $250 million budget, Riot co-founder Marc Merrill has spoken out in defense of the show’s purpose and legacy.

His recent comments underline this Arcane it was never about short-term financial gain, but about creating something meaningful for players and fans.

Bloomberg’s initial report said so Arcane invested less than half of the production and marketing budget. Netflix reportedly paid $3 million per episode for the distribution rights, with Tencent matching that figure to air the series in China. This amounts to $108 million in revenue, far below the alleged $250 million Riot spent on its creation.

Paolo Bellezza, ArcaneThe executive producer of told Bloomberg that the $250 million figure includes production and marketing. Merrill, however, argues that focusing solely on profitability misses the bigger picture of what they’re trying to do at Riot.

In a Reddit post addressing the report, Merrill pushed back against that idea Arcane it was a “financial shortcoming”, explaining Riot’s mission-driven approach.

“People who look at the world through a cynical, transactional, short-term lens have a really hard time understanding Riot. These people think we do things like Arcane selling skins, when in reality we are selling skins to make similar things Arcane.”

This philosophy is in line with Riot’s tradition of reinvesting the profits resulting from its great success League of Legends cosmetics in creative endeavors that expand the world of Runeterra.

Merrill went on to highlight Riot’s dedication to creating extraordinary experiences across various mediums, including games, sports, music, and animation.

He said: “Riot is a mission-driven company where Rioters constantly strive to improve their player role. We’re not focused on extracting short-term profits – we’re focused on delivering exceptional value to our audiences over the long term, over and over and over again.”

The care taken Arcane is evident in its meticulous storytelling, stunning animation, and attention to detail. Fans and critics alike have praised the series for its artistic integrity and compelling adaptation League of Legends tradition, even when creative liberties were taken to better suit the medium.

For Merrill and the Riot team, Arcane‘s success is not defined by dollars alone, he says: “To be clear, Arcane crushed for the players, and so crushed for us.

While Arcane may not have been a financial success on paper, it remains a cultural phenomenon that elevated video game adaptations to new heights. I like that Riot’s goal is to prioritize artistry and long-term value over short-term profitability.