10 Times Video Games STOLE From Fans

League of Legends isn’t just a game - it’s a global juggernaut, boasting over a hundred champions, endless lore, and one of the most creative fanbases on the internet. But for all Riot’s polish and production, a few champions have raised awkward questions about just where that inspiration really came from.

Take Kindred, for instance - the eerie dual-character champion made up of a spectral lamb and a haunting shadow wolf. Shortly after their 2015 reveal, fans noticed uncanny similarities to the artwork of Chiara Bautista, whose illustrations of a pale lamb and dark, antlered wolf had been online for years. She didn’t accuse Riot of theft, but she did acknowledge the likeness was a little too close for comfort.

Then there’s Seraphine. In 2020, indie artist Stephanie Dorris alleged Riot used her likeness and personal details for the pop-star mage - including matching pink hair, glasses, a musical background, and even eerily similar social media posts. Riot denied the claims, but the controversy exploded across fan forums and left a sour taste in the community.

To be clear, there’s no conclusive proof of plagiarism in either case. But when similar art starts turning up in multi-billion-dollar releases, is it ever a good look?