Pride is incoming, and this June Riot Games is adding LGBTQIA+ themed Pride 2022 emotes, icons, artworks and more to League of Legends, VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics (TFT), Legends of Runeterra, and League of Legends: Wild Rift.
In a blog post, Riot included a short teaser video showing off the upcoming Pride 2022 collectibles. From the short clip it looks like League of Legends players will be able to unlock Pride champion trails for the Pansexual, Lesbian, Non-Binary, LGBTQIA+, Transgender, Bisexual, and Asexual flags. League will also be adding in a few more emotes including a fuzzy poro with a rainbow flag and a Brokeback Mountain-themed one featuring Graves and Twisted Fate caressing each other. TFT will add some colorful booms for Little Legends, Wild Rift is getting a different poro with a rainbow emote, and Legends of Runeterra gets a special icon and a new card with Graves and Twisted Fate called “Two of a Kind.” VALORANT is giving players LGBTQIA+ player cards and gun buddies they’ll be able to flex in-game.
https://twitter.com/riotgames/status/1531688441112678402?s=20&t=eEE74QgYp2pr52p-d3xnyg
Outside of video games, the Riot offices will be celebrating Pride globally with marches, major esports events, and activities focused on “physical, mental, and social health.” This Pride 2022 celebration comes only a few years after Riot employees organized a protest against the company’s culture of discrimination, misogyny, and sexual harrasment.
Riot also included a curious message saying “Make sure you keep your eyes on the sea’s horizon, you may just spot two of Bilgewater’s finest heading towards the port with their own stories to share.” Is this a reference to newfound lovers Graves and Twisted Fate, or will be seeing more gay pirates League of Legends?
The cross-game Riot Pride 2022 collectibles will start dropping on June 1, 2022, at the start of Pride month.
[Disclaimer: Both Riot Games and Fanbyte are owned by the same parent company, Tencent.]
