Wren Crowe 
Reader Note: this is our new gamer writer Jenova. We took Wren and beat her with nerf bats till she behaved a bit more.
Riot Games, the developer of global gaming giants League of Legends and Valorant, is undergoing a major transformation. Recent mass layoffs, leadership changes, and widespread industry speculation point to a significant strategic shift within the company. As the gaming landscape navigates economic uncertainty and evolving player demands, Riot’s actions signal a potential redirection of its long-term vision. This raises key questions about the future of the company and the potential role of emerging technologies, such as NFTs, within its popular game ecosystems.
In early 2025, Riot Games confirmed layoffs affecting 530 employees, approximately 11% of its workforce. The company cited the need for a more sustainable future, stating that many of its investments were not yielding expected returns. These layoffs primarily impacted teams outside of core game development, including publishing and support functions.
Why Riot Is Cutting Jobs
- Refocusing on Core Development – Riot is shifting resources back to its flagship titles, League of Legends and Valorant, after years of expansion into new projects.
- Esports Ecosystem Overhaul – The company is reducing the number of Tier-1 teams in League of Legends esports from 80 to 61, merging some competitive regions to create a more sustainable structure.
- End of Riot Forge – Riot’s initiative to publish smaller-scale games within the League of Legends universe is being discontinued, with Bandle Tale being its final release.
While layoffs have become common in the gaming industry, Riot’s restructuring suggests a strategic recalibration rather than a financial crisis. However, the changes have sparked backlash from employees and fans, particularly in the esports community.
Leadership Changes: Who’s Out and Who’s In?
While Riot has not explicitly announced C-suite layoffs, the restructuring has led to significant leadership shifts.
- John Needham has been promoted to President of Publishing and Esports, consolidating responsibilities across multiple departments.
- Riot is undergoing an internal reshuffling to streamline operations, though details on executive departures remain scarce.
The absence of direct C-suite terminations suggests Riot is focusing on mid-level restructuring rather than a complete executive overhaul. However, the company’s leadership will be under pressure to justify these moves to its employees and player base.
Will Riot Games Enter the NFT Market?
One of the biggest speculative questions surrounding Riot’s future is whether the company will embrace blockchain technology and NFTs.
Riot’s Official Stance on NFTs
- Riot has historically distanced itself from NFTs, stating that they have not seen an application where the benefits outweigh the risks.
- A 2022 controversy involving a Valorant character’s association with an NFT artist forced Riot to clarify that it had no plans to enter the space.
Industry Trends and Speculation
- Some unverified claims suggest Riot has explored a blockchain platform called “Riot Chain,” which would allow players to trade digital assets.
- Other major publishers, such as Ubisoft, have experimented with NFTs but faced significant backlash.
- Riot’s focus on player-first experiences makes it unlikely they will adopt NFTs unless they find a compelling, non-exploitative use case.
For now, Riot appears to be staying away from NFTs, but the broader gaming industry’s interest in blockchain technology means the door isn’t completely closed.
Riot Games’ restructuring marks a pivotal moment for the company. By cutting costs and refocusing on core projects, Riot is positioning itself for long-term sustainability. However, the layoffs and esports ecosystem changes have raised concerns about the company’s direction.
As for NFTs, Riot remains skeptical, but industry trends could eventually push them to reconsider. For now, the company’s focus remains on strengthening its primary games while navigating an evolving gaming landscape.
Will Riot’s strategy pay off, or will these changes alienate its loyal community? Only time will tell.
