Arcane is the surprise TV hit of the year, bringing League of Legends lore to Netflix. The 3D-animated show is one of the streamer’s most popular, with a second season already on the way. While League of Legends is a notoriously lore-heavy property, can newcomers dive straight into Arcane? We’ve got details on whether it’s canon, and if it fits into the wider LoL story.
Arcane: is it canon and part of League of Legends?
Put simply, yes: Arcane is canon, and slots nicely into League of Legends’ story. However, it’s detached enough to orientate new viewers, without leaving them confused.
Yes, Arcane is very closely linked to wider League of Legends lore. In fact, the show’s opening sequence highlights the franchise on the title screen, making it clear that this is indeed a League of Legends story. That said, it doesn’t always tie directly into the games and other media. That’s especially notable in how the show treats the characters Jayce and Victor. In the show they’re close friends and co-workers, while the games position them as frenemies, never quite getting along.
These are the sort of minor tweaks that Arcane makes to the lore. They aren’t radical enough to change the franchise, but might confuse dedicated LoL fans diving into the show. However, since it’s aimed towards a broadly casual audience, it’s likely that most viewers won’t notice. Arcane is more of a casual introduction to the series than the games, meaning the creators can take a few creative liberties.
With a second season on the way, only time will tell if Arcane continues to stick to existing League of Legends canon. New episodes could further change certain characterizations or even introduce new plot points. However, that’s something we’ll have to see, once the much-anticipated second season lands.
Elsewhere on TV, the Hawkeye finale is out now. Check out our review, and a look at the post-credits scene.
