Seated in the press room at the TFT Paris Open, I remarked on the delightful surprise of Riot Games introducing a Teamfight Tactics tournament as part of the Riftbound event. The buzz surrounding Riot’s trading card game (TCG) has been palpable, leading me to initially suspect that the frenzy was merely a result of scalpers seizing the latest collectible craze. However, as I observed players eagerly queuing up for both tables and the coveted limited booster boxes available at the event shop, it became evident that the excitement was genuine.
Given Riot’s previous attempts in the tabletop arena, such as Tellstones and Legends of Runeterra, which had not quite captured the spotlight, I approached Riftbound with a mix of enthusiasm and caution. Yet, the game’s aesthetic has evolved significantly from its early iterations, and as a card collector, I found myself mesmerized by the stunning artwork. It wasn’t until I participated in a tutorial session with game director Dave Guskin that I truly grasped the engaging gameplay of Riftbound, especially when shared with friends.
Insights from the Game Director
After the tutorial, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Riftbound with Guskin. My curiosity was piqued regarding Riot’s strategy to address the scarcity issues that often plague physical TCGs, as well as the potential for a digital version to mitigate the fear of missing out (FOMO) that many players experience. Guskin’s responses were encouraging, though it was clear that this nascent card game still has some growing to do before the studio’s efforts fully materialize.
On the topic of increasing card availability, Guskin shared, “Some of my very smart coworkers put it most succinctly when they say ‘You’ve gotta put that on a boat.’ When you put the product on a boat, you’re constrained by the timelines of boats crossing oceans and what happens when it gets to the port.” He continued, “We did our best to estimate how much demand there would be for the game and how successful we thought it would be. I think we undershot, and that’s okay, right? It’s a new game. We’re learning with everyone else exactly how many people want to play. People want to play Riftbound. I think we’re doing everything we can.”
As the market fluctuates, many players, myself included, have found it challenging to engage with Riftbound fully. Aside from starter decks, I have struggled to find any packs available in the UK through online retailers. While the singles market has allowed me to acquire a few sought-after cards, the prices for essential meta staples have often exceeded my budget. Given Riot’s extensive experience with digital TCGs through Legends of Runeterra, I was surprised that a digital version of Riftbound was not announced alongside its physical counterpart. However, Guskin’s rationale for this decision was compelling.
“We’ve talked about digital representations of Riftbound a lot,” he explained. “One thing that’s really important for us, as a new game, is we want to support in-person social play; we built Riftbound to be a game you play with your friends. It’s a great experience to bring in people who maybe haven’t played a TCG before […] so that really matters to us.”
In an era where social spaces are diminishing and face-to-face interactions are increasingly relegated to digital platforms, fostering in-person connections through games like Riftbound is a commendable endeavor. Guskin acknowledged the challenges some players face in accessing local game stores, stating, “That said, some people don’t have access to a game store, or it’s hard to get out every night of the week to go play. So we’ve been talking a lot about, ‘what are the opportunities for us to make the game more accessible?’”
While the current focus remains on enhancing the in-person experience, Guskin hinted at the possibility of a digital version in the future, suggesting that it is a matter of “not if, but when and how” Riot will approach a digital Riftbound. Although this does not guarantee an immediate digital solution, it does signal a commitment to accessibility. For now, players can explore alternatives like utilizing a mod for Tabletop Simulator to engage with the game in a digital format, albeit not as a native solution. Nevertheless, it serves as a promising interim option for those eager to join in on the action.
