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Documents about Riot
Riot Games Transitions LPL English Broadcast to Co-Streaming Model
Riot Games has officially transitioned the English-language broadcast of China’s League of Legends Pro League (LPL) to a co-streaming-only model.
- Riot Games has suspended its official English-language broadcast for the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) in favor of a co-streaming-only model.
- The shift follows data showing that only 29.4% of non-Chinese LPL viewership occurred on official channels, while 70.6% was generated through co-streaming.
- Individual content creators are central to this transition, with streamer Marc “Caedrel” Lamont alone accounting for 18.4% of total LPL viewership.
OverActive Media Secures Long-Term Franchise Agreement with Riot Games
OverActive Media has finalized a new long-term partnership agreement with Riot Games, securing its continued participation in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC).
- OverActive Media has secured a new long-term partnership with Riot Games, ensuring its continued participation in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC).
- The agreement eliminates $2 million in franchise payables that were previously scheduled to be due in 2025.
- OverActive Media now holds 100% ownership of its franchises with no remaining associated liabilities.
Freaks 4U Gaming Secures Rights to Operate Prime League From Riot
Berlin-based esports firm Freaks 4U Gaming has secured a contract renewal from Riot Games to continue operating the League of Legends Prime League.
- Riot Games has renewed the operator license for the League of Legends Prime League with Berlin-based firm Freaks 4U Gaming for the 2025–2027 period.
- The agreement allows Freaks 4U Gaming to continue managing the regional league for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (DACH), a role they have held since 2018.
- German health insurance provider Techniker Krankenkasse will remain the title partner for the Prime League throughout 2025.
Games Industry Layoffs Surpass 13k for 2024: October Update
The global video game industry continues to face significant workforce contraction, with total layoffs for 2024 surpassing 13,000 positions as of early November.
- Total layoffs in the games industry have exceeded 13,000 for 2024, with over 400 jobs cut in October alone.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment accounted for the largest single reduction in October, cutting 210 employees following the closure of Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi.
- Other notable October layoffs include 72 staff at XR Games, 69 at Don't Nod, 50 at ProbablyMonsters, 35 at Netflix, and 32 at Riot Games.
John Knauss Joins GRID Esports as EVP of Gaming Solutions
GRID Esports has appointed John Knauss as its new Executive Vice President of Gaming Solutions.
- John Knauss, a former Riot Games executive with nearly a decade of experience, has joined GRID Esports as the new Executive Vice President of Gaming Solutions.
- In his new role, Knauss will lead GRID’s Gaming Data Solutions vertical, focusing on tournament management, data distribution, monetization, and integrity for game developers.
- During his tenure at Riot Games, Knauss served as Senior Manager of Technical Product Management, where he oversaw global sports data rights strategy and competitive data programs for League of Legends and Valorant.
Worlds 2024 Grand Finals Hits Major Viewership Milestone
The League of Legends Worlds 2024 Grand Finals, held at the O2 Arena in London, established a new benchmark for global esports engagement.
- The League of Legends Worlds 2024 Grand Finals between T1 and Bilibili Gaming reached approximately 6.94 million peak viewers, marking it as the most popular esports match in history.
- This event is only the second esports tournament ever to surpass the 6 million peak viewership milestone.
- Vietnamese language broadcasts set a record for the event with 1.11 million peak concurrent viewers, becoming the tenth language to cross the 1 million mark in professional gaming.
Untold Stories of Activision, Blizzard, and King Founders
The analysis examines the professional trajectory and investment performance of gaming startups founded by former employees of Activision, Blizzard, and King.
- Startups founded by Activision, Blizzard, and King alumni raised nearly $0.7 billion in venture capital across 40 funding rounds between 2020 and 2024.
- Alumni-led startups demonstrate strong follow-on financing capabilities, typically securing subsequent funding rounds within one to two years of their initial investment.
- Major venture capital firms, specifically a16z and BITKRAFT, remain the primary financiers for these alumni-led gaming ventures.
Worlds 2024 Finals Estimated Economic Impact: London
The League of Legends World Championship Finals (Worlds 2024), held at London’s O2 Arena, generated an estimated economic impact of £12 million ($15.5 million USD) for the city.
- The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2024) finals at London's O2 Arena are estimated to generate an economic impact of £12 million ($15.5 million USD) for the city.
- The economic impact projection was provided by the investment firm London & Partners, based on confidential evaluations of previous League of Legends tournament data.
- The event features a sold-out crowd of approximately 14,500 attendees at the O2 Arena, though reports indicate significant secondary market activity and scalping.
League of Legends Championship of The Americas: 2025 Format and Teams
Riot Games has unveiled the structure and participating organizations for the 2025 League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA), a unified competitive ecosystem that replaces the previous LCS, LLA, and CBLoL leagues.
- Riot Games is consolidating the LCS, LLA, and CBLoL into the new League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA), split into North and South Conferences starting January 25, 2025.
- The LTA North Conference features eight teams, including six legacy LCS organizations (Cloud9, Dignitas, FlyQuest, Shopify Rebellion, Team Liquid Honda) and Lyon Gaming as the LATAM partner.
- The LTA South Conference includes seven partner teams: Fluxo, FURIA, LOUD, paiN Gaming, RED Canids, Vivo Keyd Stars, and Leviatán.
Riot Reveals Format Changes to League of Legends EMEA Championship in 2025
Riot Games has announced a significant restructuring of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) for the 2025 season, moving to a three-split format designed to increase competitive stakes.
- The 2025 League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) season will transition to a three-split format (Winter, Spring, and Summer), replacing the previous Season Finals structure and eliminating Championship points.
- The Winter Split begins January 18, 2025, and will exclusively utilize the 'Fearless Draft' format throughout the competition.
- Spring and Summer splits will shift toward a best-of-three series structure during the regular season to increase competitive stakes.
2025 League of Legends Championship to be Hosted in China
Riot Games has officially announced that the 2025 League of Legends World Championship will be hosted in China. This decision marks a significant return to the region for the premier esports event.
- Riot Games will host the 2025 League of Legends World Championship in China.
- Riot Games has extended and expanded its global partnership with the China-based mobile phone manufacturer OPPO.
- Under the expanded agreement, OPPO will serve as the global presenting partner for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at both the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational and the 2025 World Championship.
Pittsburgh Knights, Knights Arena to Close by Year’s End
The esports organization Pittsburgh Knights and its events division, Knights Arena, will officially cease all operations by the end of 2024. This closure follows seven years of activity in the competitive gaming sector.
- The esports organization Pittsburgh Knights and its events arm, Knights Arena, will cease all operations by the end of 2024.
- The company has initiated a round of layoffs, with remaining essential staff scheduled to be let go after December 1, 2024.
- The shutdown timeline is set to coincide with the conclusion of the Valorant Challengers League 2024 North America: Stage 3, which runs from November 5 to December 1.
