Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends and Valorant, has made some layoffs. A total of 46 employees have terminated from the studio yesterday, stating that the move was due to “strategic shifts within a few teams to sharpen our focus in a number of areas.” This also comes in light of Microsoft eliminating over 10,000 jobs including layoffs at Xbox studios like 343 Industries and Bethesda.
The news first broke from esports reporter Jacob Wolf who revealed that Riot Games were making cuts across several departments. Video Games Chronicle later corroborated the news and confirmed with Riot Games that 46 employees were being let go.
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A spokesperson for Riot Games stated:
“Riot Games implemented strategic shifts within a few teams to sharpen our focus in a number of areas. With these shifts, certain roles were eliminated, impacting a total of 46 Rioters. This is part of our normal course of our business: We periodically make changes to our structure and our teams based on what we believe will allow us to deliver the best content and experiences for players. We never make these decisions lightly and will always start from a place of wanting to retain Rioters and have them focus on our highest priorities. While that’s not always possible, it’s our primary goal.”
Microsoft’s mass layoffs also headlined news this week when the tech giant terminated over 10,000 jobs across its various departments including Xbox. The cuts account for 4.5% of Microsoft’s overall work force which sits at 220,000 employees. Microsoft has come under scrutiny for its historical acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard which will cost the company nearly $70 billion. Many felt that the massive expense could’ve easily retained the jobs of those recently terminated.
Riot Games is currently working on a number of projects including the League of Legends fighting game Project L. The studio continues to support its biggest IPs, providing updates for Valorant and League of Legends till today.
Source: Video Games Chronicle
