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The choices for the Arcade Event this year prove how safe Riot is playing this season

EdgeLady·6/11/2019, 6:52:16 PM·27 votes·15,727 views
6/11 PBE Update: Qiyana, Arcade 2019 Skins, and much more!

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As the skin releases have gone by this year, it's becoming more and more clear that the few risks Riot teased in their Skin video at the beginning of 2019 are literally the only risks they will take this year. The Battle Academia choices, the Dark Star choices, and now these. Don't get me wrong, I think these skins work great on their own. The arrogant princess Qiyana being a bombastic Battle Boss? Great! Caitlyn fits well enough, and can reference many old-school shooter games. Although I'm not so sure how I like Kai'Sa's design, I actually think she's an excellent choice for this, especially given the parallels some people have drawn between her and Samus Aran. Her orange outfit might even reference this here. And Yasuo, of course, is an edgy samurai duel boss. And we hate to fight him in game. What could be better?

But therein lies the problem. Arcade is one of the few skin lines in the game that can truly fit every single champion, especially the Battle Boss subset, which only had two humanoids in it before now, Malzahar and Brand, neither of whom are reputed to be money-maker humanoids like several other champions (and you could debate that Ziggs and Veigar fall into that category too, but much further removed). And the main Arcade heroes themselves have even had Corki and Hecarim in their lineups too, so there's definite room for expansion in the type of people we see saving the pixelated worlds of the Arcade. But instead, this time, we're only getting safe moneymakers in this event, instead of a mix of moneymakers and more risky champions. Hell, why wasn't this Zilean's skin for this year? He'd be an awesome reference to the well-known old man from the first Legend of Zelda game, or he could reference any other number of old wizard characters from games. Now, I'm thinking that Zilean will get the Ivern treatment and get some niche skin that will be the only one released in his patch. I mean, I'm still hoping his skin is good, but I fear that it'll be treated like a throwaway in between all the other moneymaking events and skins of the year.

And I'm pretty certain that we won't get any more champions with large skin gaps getting any more skins this year. I'm certainly glad that we got ones for Tahm Kench, Corki, and Yorick near the beginning of the year, and that we're getting our promised Shaco skin now (even if I do think he'd fit Battle Boss better, but Dark Star isn't bad), because the rest of the year doesn't seem to be promising much more than the Zilean skin. Maybe, now that he's reworked, we can get something for Mordekaiser if we're lucky, but I'm even having doubts about that now.

At least there's still a bit more hope for an Ornn skin, especially for Snowdown this year. Don't fail us on that one ray of hope, Riot!

34 Comments

AnotherPurple3796/11/2019, 7:10:08 PM19 votes

I was disappointed as soon as I saw Taliyah wasn't in the line up. Here's to hoping she'll be in Star Guardian this year.

And yeah, I kinda agree. Ezreal and Lux for Battle Academia turned me off first, but now it's Yasuo, Kai'Sa and Caitlyn for Arcade. And they do fit the Arcade theme pretty well, but at the same time they're all popular and safe picks. So I can't help but feel slightly frustrated.

JhonTeemon6/11/2019, 7:24:59 PM19 votes

Notice how all champions who got Battle Academia were Human, notice how all champions who are getting Arcade are human.

AbiwonKenabi6/11/2019, 10:55:33 PM8 votes

Its honestly kind of weird. We expect one or two big "skin receivers" to come per theme, but all of them? The only one who I would say isn't is Qiyana, who is obviously new and unproven.

Its one thing if its hard for Ivern or Shaco to get a skin, seeing as they are more niche among the roster. But Champions of middling popularity like Taliyah, Ornn, Rek-Sai or Xerath is pretty strange. Especially considering Xerath fits the Arcade theme quite well. Hell, both Ornn and Taliyah saw a ton of pro play, you'd think that would contribute a little to not only their popularity but also their skin count.

I'm not someone to be upset by it (I am a big Ezreal fan, so I am a little spoiled) but it does seem a little odd to me. What's the thought process here?

Here's hoping for some real zingers for Star Guardian or Pool Party. I think Taliyah would fit SG perfectly and PP pretty well, so I think its extremely likely that's what they are saving her for. Hell, I think Pool Party is another line that could potentially fit any Champion, so we might get some surprises. At least I hope so.

QMighty6/11/2019, 7:36:18 PM6 votes

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed even though these honestly look great. Was really hoping for Xerath/Karthus.

Targon6/12/2019, 5:13:58 AM5 votes

I've been wondering lately if Riot's choices of champions who get skins frequently (i.e., "safe" champions for skin sales) is a result of their waning sales over the last couple of years OR is it instead their choices of champions for these skins causing their overall sales to go down (or both).

I can't prove it, but it feels as though there was more skin diversity 2-3 seasons ago compared to now. It feels as though 80% of skin resources go towards the same 20% of popular/safe champions, while the other 20% of skin resources goes to the other 80% of less popular champions. It didn't seem to be this skewed in the past.

Neopolıtan6/11/2019, 11:37:02 PM4 votes

Can we just talk about how ugly the Kai'sa one looks? Not only are they milking every cent out of her, they're not even trying to make her look right anymore

Vlada Cut6/12/2019, 8:37:47 PM3 votes

I love Kai'Sa's Gamepad Wings and how they binded her to the Butterfly design. Looks like someone who sure looks like a fighter from old Street Fighter games. What I do dislike aboit Arcade Kai'Sa jist like on KDA Kai'Sa is her losing her face, her face and haircut differences make her hardly recognizable anymore. Bullet Angel's short haircut was justified as long hair wouldn't have wlrked well with the suits helmet/space military suit design.

Again, great going with Gamepad Butterfly Wings.

Stars Shaper6/11/2019, 7:37:50 PM3 votes

Kai’Sa splash being like: “Have you seen my groin? It’s right down here!” XD

Pika Fox6/12/2019, 6:47:26 PM3 votes

Tbh, im surprised morde didnt get a glitched out battle boss skin, in honor of all his bugs.

Oleandervine6/12/2019, 3:13:32 PM2 votes

Kai'Sa looks VERY Asian in this splash, moreso than she should since she hails from Shurima, and not Ionia.

But also, to call Dark Star Shaco and Dark Star Karma as no risk options for that skin line is absolutely absurd. They were strange inclusions that ended up working out very well, but they're by no means money maker champions. I think your perspective on the skins this year is quite skewed - they have taken risks, some that paid off, some that didn't.

LunSeiSleidee6/12/2019, 6:19:06 PM1 votes

All I see is tits and ass, in a pose and drawing that makes sure to highlight breasts and crotch areas. How do you guys even play this game without feeling ashamed of yourselves?

Ztoka6/12/2019, 6:17:38 PM1 votes

I understand making skins for popular champs. I'd think there would be many people who only want to own so many skins per champ. I own all of the skins I really like on the champs I enjoy. There has to be a pretty special/sweet skin released to even make me consider buying said skin because I already have a favorite skin for said champ. Take a champ like Xerath. Hasn't gotten a new skin for quite some time. Imo, most of his skins look pretty darn similar, so if a new, sweet/unique looking xerath skin came out, I'd be tempted to buy it. Cait though, I already have sheriff, officer, lunar wraith, arcade isn't unique or cool enough imo to even consider buying/using that over the skins I own. I know it does come down to preference in the long run. Riot can do w/e but certain champs getting so many skins doesn't make sense. Then again, they see the numbers on the back end which I don't so I am sure what they are doing is max profit.

Jebiwibiwabo6/13/2019, 1:03:05 AM1 votes

they boutta give zilean a dunkmaster skin [sg-janna]

ΕveΙynn6/22/2019, 4:55:56 PM1 votes

I feel like for example Kindred, Neeko or Taliyah would be way better to make an Arcade skin for instead of Kai'Sa. She's like the new Lux or MF, 1 skin last year, 2 skins this year (in only 6 months). How is this okay...

Still, people hate on it, but I absolutely love Arcade Kai'Sa's design. Except for the weird cleavage, she doesn't look that feminine and I like it about her. [sg-ahri-2]