Riot Games Confirms Layoff of 11% of its Workforce

Valorant and League of Legends studio Riot Games has officially confirmed layoffs for its 530 employees this Monday. This news is a massive coming from Riot, as they have rarely seen a cut-off in recent years. The studio is renowned in the gaming industry for putting out many popular multiplayer competitive games, including Valorant, which came out in 2020.

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Despite the recent success in the esports world through LoL and Valorant, the studio has decided to bid farewell to many of its good employees this year. While Riot did not disclose all the official reasons behind this decision, the studio has shared a few words regarding the matter.

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Also read: Riot Games References Popular Indian Movie RRR In Valorant Battlepass

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Riot Games Lays Off 530 Employees This Month

In an official blog shared on Riot Games' official page, the studio claimed they have managed to avoid days like this, but the decision is 'critical' for the company. They also stated that this decision was not to appease the shareholders or hit a quarterly earning revenue number; however, it was necessary. Riot Games announced that over the past few years, the company has doubled in headcount and spread its efforts across multiple projects without 'enough sharp razors.' Following the analysis, the future adjustments aim to focus on the areas that have the greatest impact on a player's experience.

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The decision led to a layoff for 530 roles globally within Riot Games, which makes up roughly about 11% of the company's workforce. These layoffs will impact the teams outside of the core development. Riot also stated they have recognized that many gamers don't care about the games but also about the people who make them. Considering that, this decision is an organizational change that will affect individuals and families. Riot also attached the email they have sent to the laid-off employees, which is available for anyone reading their official blog.

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Riot mentioned its main concern in the email, stating that the studio doesn't have a sharp enough focus on projects as there are multiple ones at the moment. It also claimed that some of the 'significant investments' are not paying off the way they expected. According to the blog's email, the studio's costs have grown to an unsustainable point, which has led to little to no room for experimentation or failure. As this is vital for a creative company like Riot Games, the CEO and board members have decided to not put the core of the business at risk.

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