Ex-World of Warcraft Producer Teams Up with WoW Veteran for Riot’s League of Legends MMO: “I Expect Quick Progress from Day One”

We’ve just received some exciting news regarding Riot’s long-anticipated League of Legends MMO. Former World of Warcraft producer Raymond Bartos has officially joined the project, marking a significant milestone. His announcement also reveals a reunion with engineer Orlando Salvatore, with whom he collaborated on some standout features in modern WoW, such as Plunderstorm and the gear update.

Bartos expressed his enthusiasm on Twitter, stating, “From my very first conversation with Riot, I immediately gravitated toward their values—and I was genuinely impressed by how clearly those values showed up throughout the interview process. It made it obvious that kindness, respect, and care aren’t just words here, but something the team truly lives by.”

In his new role as senior game producer for Riot’s MMO, Bartos brings a wealth of experience from his time as lead producer on WoW. In his farewell message to Blizzard last year, he reflected on the honor of contributing to projects like Plunderstorm, various Remixes, the Gear update, Dungeon Followers, and events celebrating the 20th Anniversary.

Bartos is particularly eager to collaborate with Salvatore again, noting their successful history together. “Given our track record on World of Warcraft, I have a feeling we’ll be moving fast on day one.”

As the project continues to evolve, the gaming community has playfully noted Riot’s ongoing commitment to developing an MMO, despite the lengthy timeline. Will we eventually see a tangible game emerge from this endeavor? Only time will reveal the answer.

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