Watch: 'Arcane' Studio Fortiche Delivers 2025's Final 'League of Legends' Cinematic for Riot Games
Twilight’s End, the latest cinematic collaboration between French studio Fortiche and Riot Games, premiered at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship in Chengdu. It closes the year’s narrative arc for League of Legends, centered on characters LeBlanc, Vladimir, and Xin Zhao.
Narrative and Structure
The story unfolds through four cinematics released since January 2025:
- Welcome to Noxus
- Dark Gambit
- Beginning of the End
- Twilight’s End
At the core of Twilight’s End is the climactic battle for the Darkin Glaive’s control, culminating the ongoing saga.
The Cinematic Plot
The cinematic opens with a fierce fight inside the Spirit Temple, set during the “spirit blossom bloom” in Ionia’s physical world. Xin Zhao and temple guardian Yunara battle to stop Atakhan, LeBlanc’s ally, from claiming the ancient glaive that contains the Darkin Zaahen.
In the chaos, Xin Zhao touches the glaive and is transported to Zaahen’s prison realm. Determined to prevent a grim future where LeBlanc and Atakhan destroy Demacia—as foreseen in Beginning of the End—Xin Zhao offers his body to Zaahen for control.
Visual Innovation
Fortiche developed new visual styles inspired by Ionia’s magical and mystical essence to enhance the cinematic’s atmosphere.
“For this production, Fortiche explored new visual codes shaped by Ionia’s magic and mysticism.”
Twilight’s End marks a powerful conclusion to a year-long story arc, combining deep lore with innovative animation techniques.
Author's summary: Fortiche’s Twilight’s End concludes the 2025 League of Legends story arc with a mystical battle for the Darkin Glaive, showcasing new visual styles inspired by Ionia’s magic.