Riot Games is an American video game company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, the company is best known for developing the popular multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends. Riot Games also operates esports tournaments for its games and has released other titles, including Valorant. Acquired by Tencent in 2011, the company previously had a publishing arm, Riot Forge, which focused on League of Legends spin-off games. In collaboration with Fortiche, Riot Games also produced Arcane, a successful animated series set in the League of Legends universe.
September 2006: Riot Games Secures Funding and Begins Development
After securing $1.5 million in funding, Riot Games began developing League of Legends in September 2006. They brought on Steve "Guinsoo" Feak, a prominent figure in the MOBA genre, to help develop the game.
September 2006: Riot Games Founded
Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill founded Riot Games in September 2006 to develop the game League of Legends.
October 27, 2009: League of Legends Officially Released
After a successful beta testing period, Riot Games officially released League of Legends as a free-to-play game on October 27, 2009.
May 10, 2010: Riot Games Takes Over European Distribution
Riot Games decided to take over the distribution and operation of League of Legends in Europe on May 10, 2010. The company relocated its European headquarters from Brighton to Dublin.
2010: Riot Games Develops New Content and Explores Esports
During 2010, Riot Games focused on developing new content for League of Legends and recognized the growing interest in watching the game. This led them to establish their own esports leagues, featuring weekly broadcasts and a professional game schedule.
February 2011: Tencent Makes Major Investment in Riot Games
In February 2011, Tencent invested $400 million in Riot Games, acquiring a 93% stake in the company.
2011: Riot Games Hosts First World Championship and Invests in Esports
Following their first world championship, a small event in Sweden, Riot Games decided to elevate their tournaments into professional sporting events. They invested in broadcasting equipment, hired experienced sports producers, and trained professional gamers for a more polished presentation.
2011: Tencent Acquires Majority Stake in Riot Games
In 2011, Chinese conglomerate Tencent acquired a majority stake in Riot Games, becoming a significant turning point for the company.
2012: Riot Games' Tournament at USC's Galen Center
In 2012, Riot Games held its tournament at the University of Southern California's Galen Center, offering a $1 million prize pool. This marked a significant step in their efforts to professionalize and expand their esports presence.
2012: Riot Games Creates Team to Address Player Toxicity
In 2012, Riot Games established a "player behavior team" to address the growing issue of toxicity and harassment within the League of Legends community.
2013: League of Legends Becomes Most Played PC Game
By 2013, League of Legends achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the most-played multiplayer PC game worldwide.
December 16, 2015: Tencent Acquires Remaining Stake in Riot Games
On December 16, 2015, Tencent purchased the remaining 7% stake in Riot Games, solidifying its complete ownership. The acquisition price remained undisclosed.
2015: Riot Games Relocates to New Los Angeles Campus
In 2015, Riot Games moved its headquarters to a brand-new building situated on a sprawling 20-acre campus in west Los Angeles.
2015: Investors Buy Stakes in Riot Games' Esports Teams
In 2015, investors began buying stakes in Riot Games' esports teams, further solidifying the professionalization and financial growth of their leagues. Notable investors included owners of NBA and MLB teams, AOL co-founder Steve Case, and life coach Tony Robbins.
March 2016: Riot Games Acquires Radiant Entertainment
Riot Games expanded its portfolio in March 2016 by acquiring Radiant Entertainment, the developer behind the games Rising Thunder and Stonehearth.
October 2016: Riot Games Releases "Mechs vs. Minions" Tabletop Game
In October 2016, Riot Games expanded its portfolio beyond video games with the release of "Mechs vs. Minions," a cooperative tabletop game inspired by the League of Legends universe.
2016: Riot Games Named "Company of the Year" and Addresses Revenue Sharing Concerns
Inc. magazine recognized Riot Games as its "Company of the Year" in 2016, citing the impressive growth of their esports leagues and the involvement of high-profile investors. The company also addressed concerns from players and coaches regarding revenue sharing and in-game changes, promising higher revenue shares and increased collaboration with professional teams.
2016: League of Legends Reaches 100 Million Monthly Players
League of Legends continued to grow, surpassing 100 million monthly players in 2016, according to a report by Inc. magazine.
October 13, 2017: Founders Shift Focus, New Leadership Takes Over
Founders Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill announced their decision to return to game development on October 13, 2017. They transitioned daily operations and management to Dylan Jadeja, Scott Gelb, and Nicolo Laurent.
2017: Riot Games Sues Moonton Over Copyright Infringement of "League of Legends"
In 2017, Riot Games initiated legal action against Moonton Technology Co., the developers of "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," alleging copyright infringement due to similarities with their game "League of Legends." The case, initially filed in California, was dismissed on grounds of forum non conveniens.
2017: League of Legends World Championship in China and Franchising Announcement
Riot Games held the League of Legends World Championship in China, with the finals taking place in Beijing. The company also made a significant move by announcing the franchising of its ten-team North American League of Legends Championship Series, with a hefty $10 million entry cost.
May 2018: Riot Games Expands Globally with 2,500 Employees
By May 2018, Riot Games had grown to employ 2,500 people across 24 offices worldwide, demonstrating its significant global presence.
July 2018: Tencent Wins Copyright Lawsuit Against Moonton, Awarded $2.9 Million
In July 2018, Tencent, representing Riot Games, secured a victory in a Chinese court against Moonton Technology Co. regarding the copyright infringement lawsuit. The court ruled in favor of Tencent, awarding them $2.9 million in damages.
August 2018: Riot Games Responds to Allegations and Announces First Steps for Change
Following the Kotaku exposé, Riot Games faced severe backlash and scrutiny. The company issued statements acknowledging the allegations and outlining initial steps to address the toxic workplace environment. These included the creation of a "Culture and Diversity & Inclusion Initiative" and the appointment of Frances X. Frei as a senior advisor to guide their efforts.
August 2018: Riot Games Faces Backlash Over Women-Only PAX West Session
In response to the Kotaku exposé, Riot Games organized a session at PAX West 2018 exclusively for women and non-binary aspiring game developers. However, the decision to exclude men sparked outrage among some members of the gaming community, leading to harassment and threats directed at the company. While Riot defended the move as necessary to promote diversity, the backlash highlighted the challenges and sensitivities surrounding gender representation in the gaming industry.
October 2018: DFEH launches investigation into gender discrimination at Riot Games
In October 2018, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) began an investigation into allegations of gender discrimination at Riot Games.
December 2018: Riot Games CEO suspends COO for misconduct
In December 2018, Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent suspended COO Scott Gelb for 2 months without pay due to workplace misconduct.
2018: Kotaku Exposes Toxic Workplace Culture at Riot Games
In a bombshell report published in 2018, Kotaku revealed a deeply ingrained culture of sexism and gender discrimination at Riot Games. Based on interviews with 28 former and current employees, the article exposed instances of female employees' ideas being disregarded, inappropriate behavior from male colleagues, and a general "bro culture" that marginalized women. The report sent shockwaves through the gaming industry and prompted calls for change.
January 2019: Riot Games updates company values
In January 2019, Riot Games updated its company values for the first time since 2012, in response to reports of a "bro culture" within the company.
February 2019: Riot Games hires chief diversity officer
In February 2019, Riot Games appointed Angela Roseboro as its first chief diversity officer to address diversity and inclusion concerns.
March 2019: Riot Squad Esports Founded
Riot Squad Esports LLC, an esports organization based in Chicago, was established in March 2019.
April 2019: Employees sue Riot Games over gender discrimination
In April 2019, one current and one former Riot Games employee filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination. Three more employees followed with similar lawsuits in the following months.
May 6, 2019: Riot Games employees stage walkout
On May 6, 2019, over 100 Riot Games employees participated in a walkout to protest the company's use of forced arbitration in employment contracts, demanding an end to the practice for all current and former employees.
May 2019: Riot Games initiates 90-day plan to address diversity and inclusion
Riot Games launched a 90-day plan in May 2019 to tackle internal issues related to diversity and inclusion, aiming to improve workplace culture.
June 2019: DFEH claims Riot Games obstructed investigation, challenges proposed settlement
In June 2019, the DFEH accused Riot Games of withholding requested documents and criticized the proposed $10 million settlement as insufficient, estimating a potential value of $400 million.
August 2019: Riot Games reaches proposed settlement in gender discrimination lawsuit
In August 2019, Riot Games reached a proposed $10 million settlement in the class-action lawsuit, intending to address issues related to gender discrimination.
October 2019: Riot Games Sues Riot Squad Esports Over Trademark Infringement
In October 2019, Riot Games filed a lawsuit against Riot Squad Esports LLC, an esports organization established in March 2019, alleging intentional infringement of their "Riot" trademark.
October 2019: Riot Games Announces New Games and Projects
Riot Games held a special event in October 2019, where they unveiled several new game projects, including League of Legends: Wild Rift, Teamfight Tactics mobile, Legends of Runeterra, and teased Projects A, L, and F.
December 2019: Riot Forge Publishing Label Established
Riot Games formed Riot Forge in December 2019, a new publishing label with Leanne Loombe at its helm. The label focuses on collaborating with external studios to develop League of Legends games.
2019: Riot Games censors politically sensitive words in League of Legends
In 2019, players of League of Legends observed that the game was censoring politically sensitive terms like "Tiananmen" and "Uyghur," particularly in the Chinese version. Following complaints, some restrictions were loosened.
2019: Riot Games restricts political statements at events
During the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, Riot Games prohibited players and staff from making political statements at its events, claiming it was necessary to avoid escalating sensitive situations.
January 2020: Riot Tabletop Announced, Tellstones Released
Expanding beyond video games, Riot Games announced Riot Tabletop in January 2020, a division focused on tabletop games. Tellstones: King's Gambit was released as their first tabletop offering.
February 2020: Class-action lawsuit participants withdraw from initial settlement
In February 2020, participants in the class-action lawsuit against Riot Games withdrew their initial acceptance of the $10 million settlement and sought new legal representation.
April 7, 2020: Valorant Enters Closed Beta
On April 7, 2020, Riot Games' tactical shooter, Valorant (formerly known as Project A), entered its closed beta phase.
April 2020: Riot Games Acquires Hypixel Studios
In April 2020, Riot Games made another strategic acquisition by bringing Hypixel Studios, the developers of the highly anticipated voxel-based sandbox game Hytale, into the fold.
June 2, 2020: Valorant Officially Released
After a period of anticipation and beta testing, Riot Games officially released its highly anticipated tactical shooter, Valorant, on June 2, 2020.
June 2020: Riot Games executive resigns after controversial George Floyd post
In June 2020, Ron Johnson, Riot Games' global head of consumer products, resigned following a controversial Facebook post where he attributed George Floyd's death to his "criminal lifestyle."
July 2020: Riot Games Cancels Partnership with NEOM Over Human Rights Concerns
In July 2020, Riot Games faced backlash from fans and employees after announcing a partnership with NEOM, a Saudi Arabian city, for the League of Legends European Championship. The criticism stemmed from Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the displacement of the Howeitat tribe during NEOM's construction. Riot Games swiftly canceled the partnership, issuing an apology for the rushed decision.
October 2020: Jason Bunge Becomes CMO, Singapore Office Planned
Riot Games appointed Jason Bunge as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in October 2020 and revealed plans to open a new office in Singapore, expanding its presence in Southeast Asia.
November 2020: Valorant Champions Tour Announced
In November 2020, Riot Games expanded its esports portfolio by announcing the first Valorant Champions Tour, a global competitive tournament for their popular first-person shooter game Valorant.
2020: Riot Tabletop Releases "Tellstones: King's Gambit"
In 2020, Riot Tabletop, Riot Games' dedicated board game division, released "Tellstones: King's Gambit," a bluffing game designed for two or four players.
2020: Riot Games restricts political statements at events
During the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, Riot Games prohibited players and staff from making political statements at its events, claiming it was necessary to avoid escalating sensitive situations.
January 2021: Riot Games CEO sued for sexual harassment
Nicolo Laurent, the CEO of Riot Games, was sued in January 2021 by his former assistant, who accused him of sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
March 2021: Riot Games concludes investigation into CEO, finds no wrongdoing
In March 2021, Riot Games completed its internal investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against CEO Nicolo Laurent and found no evidence to support the claims.
March 2021: Alienware terminates sponsorship with Riot Games
Alienware ended its sponsorship agreement with Riot Games for League of Legends esports a year ahead of schedule in March 2021, citing ongoing litigation regarding sexual harassment accusations as the reason.
August 2021: Riot Games Partners with FTX
In August 2021, Riot Games secured a significant seven-year partnership deal with the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, aiming to further enhance their LoL series.
August 2021: DFEH accuses Riot Games of interference in investigation
In August 2021, the DFEH alleged that Riot Games was hindering their ongoing investigation by misleading employees about their right to communicate with DFEH.
October 2021: Riot Games Acquires Services Firm Kanga
Riot Games expanded its service capabilities in October 2021 through the acquisition of Kanga, a company specializing in "fan hubs," merchandise, and content aggregation.
November 2021: Arcane Animated Series Premieres on Netflix
In collaboration with the French animation studio Fortiche Production, Riot Games released Arcane, an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, to critical acclaim in November 2021 on Netflix.
2021: Riot Games to Build Three New Remote Broadcast Centers
In 2021, Riot Games announced plans to construct three state-of-the-art "remote broadcast centers" in Asia, North America (Seattle), and Europe (Dublin). These facilities aimed to enhance the scale and quality of their esports productions by adopting a centralized production model with regional hubs. The strategic placement of these centers in different time zones allowed for continuous production and collaboration.
March 2022: Riot Invests in Fortiche, Expands Film and TV Division
Following the success of Arcane, Riot Games invested in Fortiche Production in March 2022. Concurrently, they expanded their film, TV, and music division by hiring executives from major entertainment companies.
March 2022: Riot Games Donates $5.4 Million to Humanitarian Relief in Ukraine
In March 2022, Riot Games announced a donation of $5.4 million to humanitarian relief organizations operating in Ukraine. The funds were raised from sales of battle passes and in-game items across various Riot Games titles.
July 2022: First Remote Broadcast Center Opens in Dublin
July 2022 marked the opening of Riot Games' first remote broadcast center in Dublin, Ireland. Housed in a building formerly occupied by The Wright Venue nightclub, the facility boasts an IP-based infrastructure, six studios, and even retains the nightclub's iconic disco ball.
July 2022: Riot Games agrees to $100 million settlement
In July 2022, Riot Games agreed to a $100 million settlement with the DFEH and affected employees, resolving the gender discrimination lawsuit.
October 2022: Riot Acquires Wargaming Sydney
In October 2022, Riot Games acquired Wargaming Sydney (formerly known for developing the BigWorld MMO middleware) from Wargaming and renamed it Riot Sydney.
November 2022: Riot Games Seeks to Terminate FTX Contract
Following FTX's bankruptcy filing in November 2022, Riot Games initiated legal proceedings to terminate their seven-year partnership agreement with the cryptocurrency exchange.
January 2023: Riot Games Layoffs and Cyberattack
In January 2023, Riot Games laid off 46 employees and experienced a significant cyberattack. The attack resulted in the theft of source code for League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and their anti-cheat platform. The hackers responsible attempted to sell the stolen data on the dark web for US$700,000.
September 2023: Dylan Jadeja Appointed CEO
Dylan Jadeja was appointed as the new CEO of Riot Games in September 2023.
2023: Riot Games Faces Allegations and Lawsuits
Throughout 2023, Riot Games faced numerous allegations and lawsuits, primarily centered around claims of a toxic workplace environment. These issues included accusations of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
January 2024: Riot Games Announces Layoffs and Closure of Riot Forge
In January 2024, Riot Games announced the layoff of 530 employees (about 11% of its workforce) and the closure of Riot Forge, its publishing label for independently developed games. The company also decided to shut down its planned Twitch competitor, Riot Esports Network (REN). CEO Dylan Jadeja cited the need to maintain long-term focus for players as the reason for these decisions.
January 2024: Riot Forge Shutdown
Riot Games shut down its publishing arm, Riot Forge, in January 2024. Riot Forge had overseen the production of League of Legends spin-off games by third-party developers.
May 2024: Riot Games Faces Lawsuit Over FTX Partnership
In May 2024, Riot Games was sued in California federal court over its partnership with the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiffs' losses from FTX were unrecoverable due to the bankruptcy proceedings, and they sought compensation from Riot Games.