Today's games industry layoff news comes to us courtesy of Riot Games, the development studio behind League of Legends and Valorant. In an effort to move towards "a more sustainable future", Riot Games announced plans to eliminate 11% of their entire workforce, or roughly 530 employees.
In today's announcement, Riot Games says that "teams outside of the core development" will be impacted by these layoffs the hardest.
Riot CEO Dylan Jadeja sent an email announcing the news to all Riot employees. This email was apparently sent to all employees at the same time the public announcement was made. Yes, there were some employees that found out about these layoffs on social media before receiving the email. In addition, those that are being laid off were (or will be) sent emails informing them that they are being laid off. The fact that Riot announced this news first and put employees in an anxiety filled situation like that is frankly abhorrent.
The companywide email says that those employees who are being let go will get a minimum of six months severance pay, a cash bonus, continued health benefits equal to the length of severance pay, an additional $1,000 to cover things normally under their Play Fund & Wellness Fund, the option to keep and request a laptop to aid in job searches, six months of job placement services, and more.
In addition to those 530 employees now laid off, Riot Games will be making two big changes to their current portfolio. The Legends of Runeterra team will be reduced and the focus of development will shift more towards The Path of Champions, a single player mode within Legends of Runeterra.
On top of that, Riot is ending all new game development under their Riot Forge arm of Riot Games. This shuttering of Riot Forge will take place after the February 21st release of Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story. Riot Forge was an "experiment" that allowed Riot Games to partner with various indie developers to create unique games within the League of Legends universe.
There will have been six different titles under the Riot Forge banner before it comes to an end. The email to employees suggests that they are not "closing the door entirely on single-player experiences or working with other developers if the right project comes along". However they "would want it to look pretty different in the future". Further details on these "future" plans for Riot Games will be shared in early February.
As has been the case with the countless other news stories about layoffs within the gaming and tech industries: We wish all of those hit by these layoffs the absolute best of luck.
