In 2021, the animated series Arcane, based on the popular video game League of Legends, debuted on Netflix, and fans and critics went wild. As is the case with many series that debuted on a streaming service, it was denied a physical media release. Until now, that is. The series will finally get a definitive, limited-run Collector’s Edition, 4K UHD, and a Standard Edition SteelBook Editions. There’s also a Blu-Ray Standard Edition, and on Digital Download-to-Own. All editions are currently available for preorder.

So what can Arcane fans expect? The limited-run Collector’s Edition is presented in a rigid clamshell box featuring original artwork. It contains all nine episodes presented in 4K resolution, mastered in Dolby Vision HDR. The edition also contains all episodes on standard Blu-ray discs. In addition to the full series, the set also has brand new exclusives to the Collector’s Edition.

This includes a double-sided poster featuring artwork from Piltover’s “Progress Day.” It features one side defaced by Jinx, six art cards with Powder’s illustrations, Caitlyn Kiramann’s map of Piltover, and an expansive dice set containing a Hexcore-inspired d20 die, seven liquid core resin dice inspired by Hex crystals, a protective pouch and decorative dice box. This set is limited to 6500 copies for North America.

The 4K UHD SteelBook features a stunning Jinx-themed outer package, containing the full nine-episode series presented across three 4K UHD discs. There’s also an additional Blu-ray disc containing over three hours of bonus features. The Standard SteelBook edition arrives in a Vi-themed outer package, containing the same nine-episode series and the same accompanying bonus features across three discs.

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The Standard Blu-ray edition presents the series and bonus features across three Blu-ray discs. Both versions of the SteelBook edition and the standard Blu-ray edition drop on October 8, 2024 from Shout! Studios. Bonus features on all physical editions include exclusive conversations with key creative talent and writers. Also, numerous scene breakdowns from the animation staff at studio Fortiche, “making-of” videos, and more. Arcane will be available in North America starting September 24, 2024 on digital download-to-own platforms.

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It’s time for Piltovans and Zaunites alike to finally say hello again to Arcane on Netflix after three years of waiting for another chapter. But it’s also time to start getting ready to say goodbye, too. The streamer and Riot Games have announced Arcane‘s second season will also be its final one. Don’t start mourning just yet, though. There’s reason to celebrate today today. They also shared this news with official images and an intense new teaser trailer from Arcane that promises an explosive finale.

Arcane Season Two Teaser Trailer and New Images

The second and final season of Arcane will put Piltover and Zaun on a collision path. The season’s official synopsis says, “In this final chapter, Jinx’s attack on the Council sets the stage for a dire escalation of the conflict between Piltover and Zaun.”

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When Will the Final Season of Arcane Release?

While fans will be disappointed to learn that Arcane is ending with season two, at least they know it will offer a real ending. That conclusion will arrive on Netflix this November, giving fans plenty of time to both get excited to say hello to Arcane again and prepare to say goodbye.

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Arcane season two will release in November 2024. And that means it will have been three years since the first season was released in November 2021. That’s a pretty long time for fans to wait. But this League of Legends-based show is so beautifully animated and skillfully voiced that we aren’t surprised viewers have been willing to wait as long as it takes for more. To help tide everyone over Netflix has released a few first-look clips teasing the Arcane season two adventures to come. The early teaser trailers for the show don’t seem to reveal too much, but one actually validates a popular fan theory. Hopefully, this will give fans something to buzz about until Arcane season two actually arrives, or at the very least, we get a full trailer.

Take a look at the Arcane season two first looks below.

Our Latest Look at Arcane Season 2

Our latest look at Arcane season 2 offers a glimpse of the upcoming action to come and the series continued beautiful animation. The reminder that this series stars Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell gets us even more excited. You can check it out below. The teaser is short, but it does tease Vi becoming an enforcer in Season 2. And it might possibly tease a time jump… pending the exact identity of a red-headed character we see in the clip.

Arcane Season 2 First-Look Teaser Trailer Contains Important Revelations

This teaser trailer focuses on Singed. The highly gifted but incredibly callous scientist seems to be getting a blood transfusion of sorts. He looks patient enough, but it seems like something is about to happen. Above him, suspended by chains hangs a giant monster. For those who don’t want any spoilers, look away now… Because this little bit of scene has sparked a huge response among Arcane‘s fans, hinting as it does at two popular fan theories.

Vander Is the League of Legends Monster Warwick

Firstly, throughout season one, fans wondered if the popular character Vander was actually part of greater League of Legends lore. And it seems like this trailer has helped validate that opinion.

Arcane season two appears to tease that Vander is actually the monster Warwick. In League of Legends, Warwick was “transformed by agonizing experiments, his body is fused with an intricate system of chambers and pumps, machinery filling his veins with alchemical rage.”

Agonizing experiments certainly seem to be happening in this Arcane season two trailer. Or, as Netflix shares, we’re looking at “a nightmarish augmentation.” We’ll have to wait to see how this impacts the series and the rest of the characters.

Singed’s Daughter May Become Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork

Singed is holding a locket in this first look at season two of Arcane. And when he glances down at it, we hear a clock-like ticking sound. Fans suspect that this locket holds the image of his daughter. In season one, it is strongly implied that Singed’s daughter passed away, perhaps because Singed subjected her to his experiments. Likely, his daughter’s fate drove Signed to become the monstrous kind of man we see on the show.

But what good is being a mad scientist if you can’t even bring your daughter back from the grave? Between the visuals and the ticking sound, it looks like Arcane season two is already pointing at Singed’s daughter becoming Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork.

Per the official League of Legends website, “Once a curious girl of flesh and blood, Orianna is now a technological marvel comprised entirely of clockwork. She became gravely ill after an accident in the lower districts of Zaun, and her failing body had to be replaced with exquisite artifice, piece by piece.”

Singed strikes us as the kind of person who knows exactly how to replace a human body with “exquisite artifice.” Perhaps more than one nightmarish augmentation is at play.

Arcane‘s Synopsis

Arcane season two does not yet have a specific synopsis. But here’s what Netflix shares about the show:

Arcane tells the origin story of two iconic League of Legends champions, who just so happen to be sisters. Jinx (Ella Purnell) — also known as Powder — and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) find themselves on rival sides of a brewing war between the utopian city Piltover and its oppressed underbelly Zaun. Powder and Vi are completely transformed by the end of the first season, as Powder becomes the mischievous Jinx and Vi proves she’s one champion you don’t want to mess with. 

We can’t wait to learn more about what season two specifically has in store.

When Will Arcane Season 2 Release?

Arcane season two also does not have a specific release date yet. However we know that the second season of the series will release in November 2024.

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The first-ever television series from Riot Games is coming to Netflix this fall. A few hours after this year’s League of Legends World’s Final. But unlike most shows on the streaming site, the series won’t premiere every episode at once. Riot says the show “is structured into three distinct acts with three episodes per act.” The first trio of episodes debut on November 6 at 7 pm PT. They will “focus on the very beginnings” of sisters Jinx and Vi. The next three episodes debut on November 13. And the third act and final three installments arrive on November 20.

This trailer not only highlights the show’s fantastic animation style. It’s full of action buoyed by a personal story of family. And a bigger story about a world sharply divided by social status.

Netflix/Riot Games

This trailer also provides a great idea of how the multiplayer battle arena game will work as a single coherent story. As does the show’s official synopsis. It promises a series designed to appeal to both gamers and newcomers to the franchise. From Riot:

“Based on the world behind League of Legends, Arcane dives into the delicate balance between the rich city of Piltover and the seedy underbelly of Zaun. Known across Runeterra as the ‘city of progress,’ many of the most brilliant minds call these cities home. But the creation of hextech, a way for any person to control magical energy, threatens that balance. While Arcane holds the backstories of League of Legends champions, the series is designed to stand on its own as a complex world filled with moral decisions, breathtaking animation, and suspenseful storytelling.”

In addition to Jinx and Vi, fans will also see other familiar faces from the game. That includes Jayce and Caitlyn. The series will also give insight “about the events that made them into the iconic champions” players know. All while the series moves their stories forward. Arcane will also introduce new characters too. That includes Vander and Silco. They’re citizens of Zaun who “play critical roles” in shaping the changing world. That mixture of old and new should help keep the series connected to League of Legends. While still feeling new and original.

Netflix/Riot Games

“Players all over the world love league and its universe. Their passion is what inspires us to create expressions of Runeterra worthy of their fandom. The launch of Arcane is the beginning of the next chapter for Riot and we can’t wait for players to see what we have in store for them across games, entertainment, and sports,” said Nicolo Laurent, CEO of Riot Games, in a statement. “In recognition of this moment, we’re putting players at the center of an amazing launch experience. Worlds and Arcane will combine to form a unified, global celebration, blending competition, entertainment, and community in a whole new way. Think about it like a super weekend for players.”

The English cast for the show also features some famous names. It stars Hailee Steinfeld (Vi), Ella Purnell (Jinx), Katie Leung (Caitlyn), Kevin Alejandro (Jayce), Jason Spisak (Silco), Toks Olagundoye (Mel), J.B Blanc (Vander), and Game of Thrones‘ Harry Lloyd (Viktor).

Netflix/Riot Games

“When we set out to produce Arcane, we knew that we had something really special with the story of Jinx and Vi. We wanted to explore the idea of what you would do for your family, what values you’d compromise, and the conflict you’d endure. The story, combined with the hand-painted art style and nuanced character animation we created in partnership with Fortiche, will bring players a rich glimpse into the world of League of Legends,” said Christian Linke, co-creator of Arcane in a release.

If the show is as much fun as the game, it should be a good one. And if Arcane is as popular as League of Legends it will be a massive hit.

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The sprawling world of League of Legends is a testament to the gaming community’s imagination. The game was famously inspired by a modification applied to the 2002 hit RTS Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos; in seven years’ time, a new game altogether was born. And now, from said game, we get another brand new way to explore fantastical terrain and mythos. In 2019, Netflix announced production on Arcane, an animated series set in the League of Legends world. And now, by way of Netflix’s Geeked Week, we have our first taste of this new adventure.

Though this is only our first substantial peek at Arcane, the project is actually overdue. Netflix had originally planned for a 2020 release for the animated series. Naturally, the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic preempted said plans. But now, Netflix is read to carry forth with Arcane; the show is expected to hit the streaming service this year.

Netflix also unveiled the impressive voice cast for the series, along with character posters.

VI (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld)
JINX (voiced by Ella Purnell)
JAYCE (voiced by Kevin Alejandro)
CAITLYN (voiced by Katie Leung)
SILCO (voiced by Jason Spisak)
MEL (voiced by Toks Olagundoye)
VANDER (voiced by JB Blanc)
VIKTOR (voiced by Harry Lloyd)

Leading this project is animator Ash Brannon; he has worked on movies including The Little Mermaid, the first two Toy Story films, and Surf’s Up. This will be Brannon’s first foray into the television world. It will also mark a notable shift in tone for the filmmaker, as Arcane promises a bit more grit and severity than the titles mentioned.

Netflix

In addition to the above teaser clip, Netflix also offered an in-depth Q&A between Geoff Keighley and Arcane co-creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee. They discuss everything from the characters to the relationships, to bringing the unique League of Legends experience to episodic television.

Set in the utopian region of Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League champions-and the power that will tear them apart. Vi and Jinx, the aforementioned champions, have a unique rivalry that makes them perfect for a story set in the League of Legends universe.

Arcane will launch sometime in the fall of 2021. Check out some more images from the series below!

Netflix

Netflix

Originally posted June 11, 2021. Updated September 21, 2021.

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There are a million ways to love magic these days. You can rest assured that you are not alone in your obsession whether you self identify as mage, wizard, warlock or…student? In Arcane Academy, each player takes on the role of a student of magic with the goal of being “best in class.” And if you aren’t totally intrigued by a game that is the brainchild of Eric Lang (A Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Card Game, Blood Rage, X-Com) and Kevin Wilson (Descent, Arkham Horror and Android) then perhaps the rule book’s call to arms will inspire you to give Arcane Academy a chance;

“In the world of Gossamyr, mathematics is the language of magic. For this reason, when an ancient evil rises to threaten this magnificent realm, it is not steel-clad warriors that are called to battle, it is students, sages and prodigies.”

Yes. YES. And with those words, I am ratatouilled back into my high school math class; TI 85 calculator in hand and yawping my savage battle cry. So, well done rule book… You’ve got my attention.

The rules of play are fairly straight forward. Using their slate and the action tiles they place upon it, “students” will gain will power and shards so that they can complete assignments. Linked tiles give the player more bang for their buck, as exhausting one tile also activates the ones it is directly linked to. Players may use a turn to “rest” or rather to clear their slate of exhaustion tokens.

Completed assignments are either spells or items, each respectively with their own flare and prestige points to boot. A player can purchase a card from the public hand of 4 cards or their own private hand of 3 cards. The first student to complete 8 assignments activates the Pencils Down card, leaving each player with one final chance to bulk up their prestige points before the final scores are tallied.

A tile linking game with a wizarding theme is pretty cool in my book. Though I feel more like the math geek solving a problem than a magic wielding mage. This is wildly appropriate since Arcane Academy is based on the Finding Gossamyr, a comic book about young autistic boy whose mathematical genius transports him into a magical world. His ability to solve theorems makes him quite the commodity in this new land but his disability leaves him unsure whom to trust. As the main character is distant from what his powers can unleash in Finding Gossamyr, so too is the player who is puzzling along in Arcane Academy.

Since the focus is on creating a slate with optimum linkage, the game has a unique ability to satisfy both the abstract/puzzle loving gamer and the theme mongers alike. And nothing sells the theme more in this game than the components. Dipping into the black bag for an action tile, or using fiery shards to purchase a powerful item keeps that magic feeling alive. The solid chunky shards, by the way, are the most alluring of all the fixin’s and a welcome change from most cardboard components.

The most addictive part of the game is inarguably the linking mechanism. Once your slate is a happening place with linked tiles galore, each turn can unleash a cascade of events. But crafting a well linked slate is really a product of luck more than strategy. With only 4 choices at a time and all the players competing for those choices, building a strategy is completely at the mercy of the draw pile and your fellow players. The lack of control is somewhat abated by the personal hand that allows players to plan ahead under the radar. The random factors don’t necessarily detract from the fun of the game, but worth noting if that isn’t really your thing.

And although piecing together a sexy slate can feel like a shot in the dark, the player’s skill is shown in how they fit their links together and the order in which they choose to exhaust their tiles. This is the only area of the game where a player has complete control. And truth be told, there is an inexplicable satisfaction that goes with linking your tiles so that the perfect chain of events may unfold.

Though not what I would call a gateway game, Arcane Academy is easy to learn with enough random elements that make it tricky to master. It looks to be a sweet little game, with endearing artwork and fun components but truly it is an evenly paced battle of wits that escalates intensity as one builds their slate. A simple tile laying game where the stakes are raised because MAGIC YOU GUYS. So, check it out if magic and puzzles is your jam. It’s a worthy addition to any shelf.

Have you played Arcane Academy? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Image Credits: Mark Aimerito, Christina Aimerito

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