“It’s great to see Riot hosting a Teamfight Tactics tournament at a Riftbound event,” I remarked while in the press room at the TFT Paris Open. Riot Games’ trading card game (TCG) has been gaining significant traction, and I initially suspected that the excitement might be driven by scalpers capitalizing on collectible cards. However, it turns out the interest is genuine, as players eagerly lined up both to secure play spaces and to purchase the limited booster boxes available at the event shop.
Given Riot’s mixed track record with tabletop games like Tellstones and card games like Legends of Runeterra, I approached Riftbound with both anticipation and caution. The game’s aesthetics have notably improved from initial prototypes, and as a card collector, I was particularly impressed by the artwork. It wasn’t until I participated in a tutorial session with game director Dave Guskin that I fully grasped the enjoyable gameplay, especially in a group setting.
After our tutorial, I spoke with Guskin about various aspects of Riftbound, particularly regarding Riot’s approach to the pervasive issue of scarcity in physical trading card games. I also inquired whether we might see a digital version, similar to Magic: The Gathering Arena and Pokémon TCG Live, to alleviate concerns about missing out. Guskin’s responses were encouraging, but it’s clear that the game will require more time to reach its full potential.
Guskin explained that Riot is actively working to ensure more cards are available to players. “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 said.
“We did our best to estimate how much demand there would be for the game,” he continued. “I think we undershot, and that’s okay. We are learning along with players about how many people want to play. We are doing everything we can to expedite the process; reprinting and faster shipping are among our strategies. Gathering feedback from stores and players will help us improve estimates for future sets.”
Many players, myself included, are finding it challenging to participate in Riftbound. Besides starter decks, I haven’t managed to source a single pack from online distributors in the UK. Although I’ve been able to acquire some sought-after single cards, prices for essential competitive cards are often unaffordable. Given Riot’s previous experience with digital TCGs via Legends of Runeterra, it was surprising that a digital version of Riftbound wasn’t announced alongside its physical counterpart. However, Guskin explained the rationale behind this decision.
“We’ve indeed discussed digital versions of Riftbound,” Guskin noted. “However, it’s crucial for us, as a new game, to promote in-person social play; we designed Riftbound to foster connections with friends. This aspect is vital, especially for introducing new players to TCGs.”
In-person play is crucial today as traditional social spaces diminish and face-to-face interactions become rare. Guskin continued, “That said, we are aware some people lack access to game stores or may find it challenging to play regularly, which leads us to explore ways to increase accessibility for the game. We are focused on the in-person experience right now, but we’re also considering digital options for the future.”
While this does not confirm a digital version of Riftbound, it indicates the direction Riot is moving toward for enhanced accessibility. Currently, engaging in Riftbound Online with friends on Discord isn’t a viable option, but players can use mods for Tabletop Simulator to experience the game digitally. While not a native solution, it still serves as a decent alternative for those looking to get involved.
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