Riot Video games is shedding workers for the second time this yr, the studio confirmed Tuesday. The most recent spherical of cuts will have an effect on the PC growth workforce behind Riot’s massively standard MOBA title League of Legends. Riot mentioned the layoffs had been a part of bigger modifications to its groups that may guarantee long-term development and enchancment of League. The affected staff will obtain a severance bundle, the studio mentioned.
Riot Video games Cuts Extra Jobs
In its announcement, Riot Video games mentioned that the choice to remove roles wasn’t taken to “get monetary savings,” and the League of Legends workforce will ultimately develop in measurement.
“As a part of these modifications, we have made the robust resolution to remove some roles. This is not about decreasing headcount to economize—it is about ensuring we have now the best experience in order that League continues to be nice for one more 15 years and past,” Riot Video games co-founder Marc Merrill mentioned in a publish on X Tuesday. “Whereas workforce effectiveness is extra essential than workforce measurement, the League workforce will ultimately be even bigger than it’s at the moment as we develop the following part of League,” he added.
Riot didn’t affirm the variety of staffers affected by the newest spherical of layoffs in its announcement, however a studio spokesperson confirmed to Eurogamer that 32 staff, together with 27 roles on the League of Legends workforce and a further 5 roles in publishing, shall be impacted.
Laid off staff shall be supplied with a severance bundle, that features a minimal of six months’ pay, annual bonus, job placement help, well being protection, and extra, Merrill mentioned in his publish.
In response to the Riot co-founder, the studio was engaged on the “subsequent part” of League of Legends and would share extra about its “bold plans” for the sport sooner or later.
That is the second spherical of layoffs to hit Riot Video games this yr. In January, the studio laid off 530 staff –– about 11 p.c of its world workforce. Groups outdoors of core growth absorbed the biggest affect from the layoffs.
“In the present day, we’re an organization with out a sharp sufficient focus, and easily put, we have now too many issues underway. A number of the important investments we have made aren’t paying off the way in which we anticipated them to. Our prices have grown to the purpose the place they’re unsustainable,” Riot Video games CEO Dylan Jadeja had mentioned in a letter to staff on the time.
