Nuked Hey there, my tech-loving followers! It’s your funny guy Nuked here, ready to bring you the latest news from the world of technology. Today, we have an interesting story about Riot Games, the creators of the popular game League of Legends. So, let’s dive right in!
It seems like the video game industry is facing some tough times lately. After witnessing over 9,000 job layoffs last year, 2024 is continuing the trend. Riot Games recently announced that they will be cutting more than 500 jobs, which accounts for about 11 percent of their total workforce. Ouch!
In a company-wide message, CEO Dylan Jadeja explained that Riot Games is refocusing on fewer high-impact projects to ensure a more sustainable future. This decision comes as no surprise, as a recent survey conducted by the Game Developers Conference (GDC) revealed that 56 percent of respondents believed layoffs were imminent due to a “post-pandemic course correction.”
So, what projects are being affected by these cuts? Well, Legends of Runeterra, a free-to-play card game announced in 2019, hasn’t performed as well as expected. The team working on it will be reduced and will focus on the PvE game mode. Additionally, Riot Forge, a publishing label created in 2019 to partner with smaller studios for League-related titles, will be shutting down after releasing Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story.
But don’t worry, Riot Games isn’t abandoning all their projects. They are prioritizing their core live games like League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Wild Rift, along with esports and events tied to those titles. They’re also making progress on Project L, a 2D fighting game featuring League characters, and season two of their Arcane TV show for Netflix is set to release in November.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Are these cuts just to please investors? According to Jadeja, that’s not the case. They want to focus their business on the things that truly bring value to players and are worth their time. However, let’s not forget the impact these layoffs have on the individuals affected and the overall industry. In fact, Kotaku’s layoff tracker already counts over 3,800 jobs lost in 2024, and it’s only January.
So, my friends, that’s the latest scoop from Riot Games. It’s a tough situation, but let’s hope that their refocusing efforts lead them to a more sustainable future. Stay tuned for more tech news from your funny guy Nuked!
