Player,
A few minutes ago we told the rioters that we were refocusing on fewer, high-impact projects to move toward a more sustainable future. Now we want to tell you what these changes mean for our games and everything around them (e-sports, arcane, music, etc.) and what you can expect in the future.
For most of our history, we have managed to avoid days like this, but this decision is critical to Riot's future. This isn't about appeasing shareholders or turning a quarterly profit – it's a necessity. Over the last few years, as Riot's headcount more than doubled, we spread our efforts across more and more projects, without the knives being sharp enough to decide what players needed most. The adjustments we've made are aimed at focusing on the areas that have the greatest impact on your experience, while reducing investments in things that don't.
This means we are cutting around 530 roles globally, representing around 11% of rioters, with the greatest impact on teams outside of core development. We know that many of you care not only about the games you play, but also the people who make them. These are not just organizational changes; They affect individuals and families, and we do our best to make these decisions with respect and sensitivity. If you would like to read the email we sent to Rioters, we have shared it here.
Doubling the number of games in the center
With today's steps, we are putting the game back at the center of everything we do.
Our vision for the future is bold and our commitment to our flagship live games – League of Legends, VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift – is more ambitious than ever. We prioritize these teams so they can focus on the content, features, and updates that directly address your needs. Expect events, modes, and long-term roadmaps that lead to a vibrant (hopefully decade-long) future for these games.
Our strategy will more closely integrate esports, music and entertainment into our games. E-sports is not just about competition; It's about the highs, the lows and the communities that are created around the games. Entertainment is not just about telling stories. It is a gateway to the deeper narratives, characters and worlds that enrich the gaming experience. As we've grown, some of our efforts have become more siled, and we strive to more seamlessly combine gameplay, competitive excellence, and narrative depth in a way that truly makes being a gamer better. Whether it's the next hit from K/DA, the story that unfolds in Arcane, the intensity of a TFT Open, the unique excitement of a Worlds Game 5 or the electrifying atmosphere of VAL Champs, our focus is on quality, impact and unified experiences for players around the world.
Beyond live titles, we have projects in the pipeline that we can't wait to bring to you once they're ready. Project L has made great progress and we're looking for more ways for you to try out the game (stay tuned for more updates coming later this year). Arcane Season 2 is scheduled for November 2024. In addition, we have a number of projects in the pipeline that are in various stages of research and development.
Our publishing volume will never be huge. We want everything we deliver to be something you can be proud of and enjoy sharing with your friends. That requires financial flexibility to be able to take the time to create things that are truly great for players. We know there will still be occasional mistakes, but we want those mistakes to happen for the right reasons, not because we set the wrong priorities or had to rush projects to market before they were ready.
Legends of Runeterra and Riot Forge
We'd like to specifically address two areas that today's changes will directly impact: Legends of Runeterra and Riot Forge.
As LoR continues its journey, we are making changes to steer the game towards sustainability. We know there's a passionate community that absolutely loves this game – and so do we. Despite key successes and the role it played in building the world of Runeterra, LoR has faced financial challenges since its release, with development and support costing significantly more than it generated. In response, we are reducing the size of our team and refocusing on The Path of Champions. This shift allows the team to experiment more in the PvE space and focus on the game mode in which players spent the most time. The LoR team has more details here and we have a video planned in the coming weeks to talk more about the future.
We are ceasing new game development under Riot Forge following the upcoming release of Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story. Forge was an experiment to see what would happen if Rioters collaborated with their favorite indie developers and unleashed them on Runeterra with their unique viewpoints, styles, and expertise. It was inspiring to see what these developers created in collaboration with the Forge team across six titles across different game genres, regions and characters. We're proud of what we've done together to bring these stories to life, but it's time to refocus our efforts on the ambitious projects underway internally at Riot.
The journey with you
Our strategy for the future is clear: we focus on what we do best and what resonates most with you. Every endeavor, from development to storytelling to competition, is designed to deliver meaningful, memorable experiences where the games are at the heart.
While change can bring uncertainty, it also presents opportunities for growth and innovation. We are grateful for your continued support. Nothing Riot has ever created would be possible without you. Your passion and commitment inspire us every day and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
Dylan & Marc