Riot Games announces another wave of layoffs

by Danny Craig  · 
Riot Games announces another wave of layoffs
Riot Games

Riot Games has confirmed that the company has undergone a second round of layoffs this year, with the majority of the cuts affecting the League of Legends team.

The details:

  • Riot co-founder Marc Merrill confirmed the cuts in a statement posted to X, claiming that the decision "isn't about reducing headcount to save money," but rather about "making sure we have the right expertise" for League's future. "While team effectiveness is more important than team size, the LoL team will eventually be even larger than it is today as we develop the next phase of League," Merrill wrote. "For Rioters who are laid off, we’re supporting them with a severance package that includes a minimum of six months' pay, annual bonus, job placement assistance, health coverage, and more."

  • Although Merrill did not specify how many employees were affected, a Riot spokesperson confirmed to IGN that 32 had been laid off, with 27 previously on the LoL team and the remaining five in Riot's publishing department. The spokesperson also stated that those affected will be able to apply for new positions at Riot via its internal job board.

  • This is Riot's second round of layoffs this year. In January, the VALORANT developer cut roughly 530 positions, accounting for approximately 11% of its workforce. Unlike the most recent cuts, the significant reduction in staff was confirmed to be cost-related after the studio had grown too large, rendering the costs "unsustainable," resulting in job losses, decreased support for Legends of Runeterra, and the closure of its publishing arm.

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