As is tradition, Riot Games kicks off a new season with a cinematic, not just as hype-building trailers, but as epic expressions of League of Legends's identity as more than just a game. The League community awaited Season 2024's cinematic with bated breath, the disappointment from last year's "minimalist" offering still lingering. And then, Riot delivered "Still Here."
Hailed as a masterpiece, "Still Here" takes players on a journey through Runeterra's past, present, and possible future. It’s a testament to the enduring bond between players and League of Legends, and an everlasting hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“Still Here” paints a picture of hope and trust that will continue to propel League of Legends forward
The Season 2024 Cinematic opens with the line “Tomorrow is a hope, never a promise.” On one hand, it offers a ray of hope, suggesting that the future remains unwritten, brimming with potential. On the other hand, it serves as a poignant reminder of the uncertainties that riddle the road ahead.
Uncertainty is a challenge players have long grappled with. Heightened by the aftermath of last year's bare-bones season start cinematic video, questionable balance changes, and tone-deaf monetisation decisions, leading to whispers of a game that is "losing steam”.
However, with the sweeping Season 14 changes and the jaw-dropping "Still Here”, Riot reassures players they haven't forgotten what's "in their veins," encouraging them to continue placing their hope in the game as they have in the past.
"Still Here” takes players on a visually stunning journey featuring old familiar faces: we're whisked back to Demacia's ancient past, witnessing an epic clash between Aatrox and the twin sisters of the Aspect of Justice, Morgana and Kayle. Then, we're transported to the icy Freljord, where Tryndamere defies death by fending off Kindred, assisted by the Iceborn warmother, Ashe. We also get a glimpse of a potential future in Ionia, where a grizzled Yasuo confronts his past while protecting a burning village.
The music video and song evoke the hair-raising cinematics of the past, with epic combat and dazzling visuals that are classic Riot.
However, "Still Here" isn't just a visually dazzling spectacle. By using iconic champions like Ashe, Kayle, Morgana, Yasuo, Aatrox, and Kindred – all debuting between 2009 and 2015 – Riot seems to be saying they haven't forgotten the enduring bond between players and the game.
“Past, present, and possible futures — we remember them all." The YouTube description for "Still Here” echoes not just the stories that unfolded in the cinematic, but the journey players have shared with League of Legends.
Riot acknowledges that they are not immune to stumbles and missteps, but the 15 years of trust and hope won't be forsaken. They're committed to using that shared history to forge a brighter future. They are "still here," and will continue to be here to listen and learn.
Last year's cinematic may have faltered, but "Still Here" is a triumphant comeback. It's a love letter to League of Legends, a beckoning hand that invites us to join in on the journey, and a powerful reminder of why we keep coming back for more.
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