An unearthed investor pitch for Riot Games' seminal MOBA, then known as Onslaught: War of the Immortals, reveals a game that is almost entirely unrecognizable from the League of Legends players know today. The pitch, shared by League YouTuber Necrit and Riot's Paul Bellezza, includes video footage, design documents, lore, and screenshots from the game's earliest development phase.
The original concept for Onslaught was set in a cartoony cityscape divided into "order" and "chaos" realms. Players would control customizable immortals, with some heroes being exclusive to one of the two factions. This allegiance system required players to declare their chosen side at the start of their gaming experience. The pitch also depicted a game that seemed to be designed for 6v6 matches, a departure from the 5v5 format of modern League of Legends.
While some familiar elements are present, they are significantly altered. Annie still has her flaming teddy bear minion, but her overall appearance and that of most other champions are drastically different. Notably, Sion is depicted with a beard, a stark contrast to his current appearance. Singed, albeit under the name Zij, remains one of the few characters who underwent less dramatic changes.
The lore presented in the pitch is also distinct from the current League of Legends narrative. It described a world where two factions existed peacefully until the birth of an "antichrist of sorts" fractured reality and unleashed chaos upon existence. The accompanying pitch video also featured Riot's logo drenched in blood, indicative of the era's edgier design sensibilities. The tone is described as characteristically edgy for its time, and somewhat precious by today's standards, despite the game's cartoony art style.
This early glimpse into Onslaught: War of the Immortals offers a fascinating look at the foundational ideas that eventually evolved into League of Legends, showcasing how much the game has transformed over its development.