Riot Games, the powerhouse behind the wildly popular League of Legends, has made waves with their recent announcement of significant layoffs within the company. This decision translates to 530 employees, accounting for a substantial 11% of its workforce. In addition to the layoffs, Riot Games revealed the reduction of scope for their Legends of Runeterra and the impending closure of Riot Forge, the company’s publishing label focused on expanding the League of Legends universe.
The closure of Riot Forge will come into effect following the release of Bandle Tale, slated to launch on February 24th. To shed light on the reasoning behind these workforce reductions, Riot Games’ spokesperson, Jadeja, elucidated that the company had made several substantial investments since 2019, resulting in an expansion of their portfolio and an overall doubling of the company’s size within “a few years.” In light of these changes, Riot Games has scheduled a showcase in early February to provide further updates on their evolving portfolio.
These layoffs are not the first instance of restructuring within Riot Games. In January 2023, the company also dismissed 46 employees as part of what they termed “strategic shifts.” Interestingly, Riot Forge, which was established in 2019, sought to collaborate with external studios to craft bespoke, standalone games set within the League of Legends universe.
This move by Riot Games signifies a significant shift in their strategic direction and corporate structure. The company’s decision to streamline its operations and pull back on the scope of certain projects reflects a pragmatic approach to its future endeavors. It is clear that Riot Games is poised to navigate through a period of transformation, and the upcoming showcase in February may offer a glimpse into the company’s new trajectory.
As Riot Games continues to adapt and evolve, the gaming community eagerly awaits insights into the company’s recalibrated vision and how these changes will shape the landscape of gaming in the near future.
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