Riot
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Over 2,000 Games Industry Professionals Lost Their Jobs in February, 5x Year-Over-Year
The global video game industry experienced a significant surge in workforce reductions during February 2024, with at least 2,027 professionals losing their jobs.
- The video game industry recorded at least 2,027 layoffs in February 2024, a fivefold increase compared to the 386 jobs lost in February 2023.
- Total industry layoffs for the first two months of 2024 have already exceeded 8,000, putting the sector on track to surpass the 10,500 total layoffs documented in all of 2023.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment accounted for the largest share of February's reductions with 900 job cuts, including the closure of London Studio and staff reductions at Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and Guerrilla Games.
The Gamers Do Not Understand Anti-Cheat
The integration of kernel-level anti-cheat software into modern gaming represents a critical intersection of cybersecurity necessity and user perception.
- Kernel-level anti-cheat software is considered a strategic necessity by the industry to maintain competitive integrity against increasingly sophisticated cheat developers.
- Riot Games’ Vanguard serves as a primary example of how kernel-level access effectively mitigates widespread cheating by reducing the available attack surface for malicious actors.
- The controversy surrounding anti-cheat drivers is driven primarily by a disconnect between developer operational secrecy and player perceptions of privacy, rather than documented security failures.
Riot Reveals Project L's Official Name: 2XKO
Riot Games has officially rebranded its long-anticipated fighting game, previously known as Project L, as 2XKO.
- Riot Games has officially named its upcoming 2v2 team fighting game '2XKO', formerly known as Project L.
- The title is scheduled for a full release in 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, and PC.
- Riot Games will host a playable demo of 2XKO at Evo Japan in April 2024.
iBUYPOWER Official PC Partner of VCT Americas
Riot Games has officially designated iBUYPOWER as the exclusive PC partner for the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas International League, as well as the VCT Game Changers leagues in North America and Brazil.
- iBUYPOWER has been named the official PC partner for the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas International League, VCT Game Changers North America, and VCT Game Changers Brazil.
- Under the partnership, iBUYPOWER will supply all on-stage competition PCs for VCT Americas events.
- The company will launch a retail line of "Spec-Approved" PCs specifically branded for VCT Americas.
OverActive Media Secures VCT EMEA Agreement
OverActive Media has received official approval from Riot Games to assume a Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA team participation agreement previously held by KOI.
- Riot Games has approved the transfer of a Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA team participation agreement from KOI to a subsidiary of OverActive Media.
- OverActive Media will operate the team under the name 'Movistar KOI' for the 2024 VCT season.
- The agreement is part of a broader acquisition by OverActive Media involving esports assets from both KOI and Movistar Riders.
2024 Mobile GameDev Awards
The 2024 Mobile GameDev Awards recognize excellence and innovation in live event design within the mobile gaming industry.
- PUBG Mobile (Tencent) won the Best Collaboration Event (Midcore) for its Dragon Ball Super integration, which introduced anime-themed characters, unique abilities, and specialized game modes.
- Stumble Guys (Scopely) secured the Best Collaboration Event (Casual) award by maintaining a consistent cadence of high-quality IP partnerships, including collaborations with MrBeast, Nerf, Monopoly, and SpongeBob.
- League of Legends: Wild Rift (Riot Games) earned the Best Social/Competitive Event (Midcore) award for its limited-time Arena mode, which utilized 2v2 PvP mechanics and randomized Champion pools.
AT&T Becomes an LCS Partner
Riot Games has entered into a multiyear partnership with AT&T, naming the telecommunications provider the official connectivity partner of the League Championship Series (LCS), the premier North American League of Legends esports league.
- Riot Games has signed a multiyear partnership naming AT&T as the official connectivity partner of the League Championship Series (LCS) for 2024.
- The partnership includes the creation of a new broadcast segment titled 'LCS Connected presented by AT&T,' which will feature behind-the-scenes audio of real-time shot calls and tactical discussions.
- AT&T will serve as the presenting partner for 'LCS Fan Fest,' the pre-party event held during the LCS Finals and LCS Championship.
Uber Eats Named Food Delivery Partner of LEC
Riot Games has officially designated Uber Eats as the food delivery partner for the 2024 League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) season.
- Uber Eats has been named the official food delivery partner of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) for the 2024 season.
- The partnership includes in-game branding within the Rift, physical branding at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, and sponsorship of the 'Match of the Week' segment.
- Uber Eats will be featured on LEC broadcasts during countdowns and will host in-person pop-ups, digital activations, and fan giveaways throughout the season.
PAGODA Snacks Named Official Egg Roll of LCS
Riot Games has entered into a multi-year partnership with Schwan’s Company, naming PAGODA Snacks the official egg roll of the League Championship Series (LCS) in North America.
- Riot Games has named PAGODA Snacks the official egg roll of the League Championship Series (LCS) in North America through 2026.
- The partnership includes brand integration into LCS broadcasts, specifically through a 'Let Him Cook' segment highlighting top player moments and a 'Put the Egg Rolls In' tech pause feature.
- PAGODA Snacks will collaborate with the LCS on fan-facing activations, product drops, and giveaways throughout the 2024 season.
LCS 2024 Spring Finals Changes: North America
Riot Games has announced a strategic shift for the 2024 League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) Spring Finals, moving the event from a traditional external venue to the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles.
- Riot Games will host the 2024 LCS Spring Finals at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles on March 30–31, moving away from the previous year's external roadshow model.
- Riot Games is reducing the total number of roadshows for both the LCS and LLA leagues as part of a strategic shift in investment priorities.
- The company plans to retain a roadshow format for the 2024 Summer Finals, with specific location and activation details to be announced later in the year.
Palworld, the Equal-Opportunity Offender
The early 2024 games industry is characterized by a stark contrast between the explosive success of Palworld and a broader landscape of economic instability.
- Pocket Pair’s Palworld generated over $200 million in revenue within its first five days of release, reaching 10 million players on a modest $7.6 million budget.
- The broader gaming industry is experiencing a period of economic instability, highlighted by 1,900 layoffs at Microsoft following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- Palworld’s market strategy centers on an 'equal-opportunity offender' approach, explicitly blending mechanics and aesthetics from established franchises like Pokémon, Zelda, Ark, and Fortnite.
Too Many Video Games, but Maybe Also Too Few
Major video game publishers are increasingly adopting a strategy of releasing fewer titles to prioritize quality and focus resources on core projects.
- Major publishers including Riot Games and Square Enix are shifting strategies to release fewer titles, aiming to concentrate resources on higher-quality projects rather than a broad portfolio of mid-tier games.
- Riot Games is shutting down its Riot Forge publishing label as part of a broader restructuring that includes laying off 530 employees, representing 11% of its total workforce.
- The video game industry has seen 3,800 layoffs in January 2024 alone, already exceeding one-third of the total job losses recorded throughout 2023.
