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Seasoned Riot Games Veteran Joins Mobile Global Esports
Mobile Global Esports (NASDAQ: MGAM) has appointed Devin Murphy as its new director of strategic development.
- Mobile Global Esports (NASDAQ: MGAM) has appointed Devin Murphy as its new director of strategic development to help establish best practices in the Indian university esports sector.
- Devin Murphy brings over eight years of experience from Riot Games, where he served in various roles including senior esports event coordinator for the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).
- The hiring of Murphy occurs while Mobile Global Esports faces significant corporate instability, including a potential Nasdaq delisting following a deficiency warning issued in April 2023.
Play for Power: The LCS Lockout Battle Begins
The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) faced a significant labor dispute in June 2023, triggered by a walkout organized by the LCS Players Association (LCSPA).
- LCS players voted to stage a walkout at the start of the Summer Split to protest Riot Games' decision to remove the requirement for franchised teams to field North American Challenger League (NACL) rosters.
- The policy change eliminated a mandate that previously required teams to use a portion of their $2M–$3M annual stipend to operate secondary teams, resulting in only three of the ten franchised organizations committing to maintain an NACL presence.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) is currently not a formal union, though Executive Director Phil Aram indicated that the walkout serves as a foundational step toward potential future unionization.
LCS Players Vote to Walkout
The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) announced an overwhelming vote by professional League of Legends players to initiate a walkout in May 2023.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) has voted to approve a walkout in protest of Riot Games' decision to remove the requirement for LCS teams to maintain a North America Challengers League (NACL) roster.
- The LCSPA described the vote as 'overwhelming' in favor of the walkout, though the specific vote tally was not publicly disclosed.
- The walkout threatens the start of the LCS competition, which was scheduled to begin on the Thursday following the May 29, 2023, announcement.
Court Greenlights Riot Games’ $100M Settlement
California courts have granted final approval for a $100 million settlement between Riot Games and the California Department of Civil Rights, effectively resolving a gender discrimination class action lawsuit that originated in 2018.
- California courts have granted final approval for a $100 million settlement to resolve a 2018 class-action gender discrimination lawsuit against Riot Games.
- The settlement includes $80 million in direct payments to approximately 1,600 current and former employees and contractors, with the remaining $20 million allocated to legal fees and related expenses.
- Riot Games is required to spend an additional $18 million over the next three years to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Delane Parnell Steps Down as PlayVS CEO
Delane Parnell, the founder and CEO of the U.S.-based scholastic esports company PlayVS, has stepped down from his leadership position.
- Delane Parnell has stepped down as CEO of scholastic esports company PlayVS, with VP of Finance Joe Gibson appointed as interim CEO.
- Parnell will remain on the PlayVS board of directors and serve as a senior advisor during and after the search for his permanent successor.
- Negotiations for Parnell’s exit began in December 2022, reportedly driven by his desire to pursue a new project.
Durex Signs Partnership Deals With League of Legends Pro League, MSI, and Worlds
Durex has entered into a series of partnership agreements with Riot Games, marking the brand’s first official foray into the League of Legends esports ecosystem.
- Durex has signed partnership deals with Riot Games for the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), and the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds).
- The partnership marks the first time Durex has sponsored League of Legends esports properties, with financial terms of the agreement remaining undisclosed.
- The brand will make its debut as a sponsor at the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational, which is scheduled to take place in London from May 2–21, 2023.
Former Epic, Riot Exec Mike Seavers Joins Yuga Labs
Yuga Labs, a prominent Web3 and NFT company, has appointed Mike Seavers as its new chief technology officer, effective May 22, 2023.
- Mike Seavers, former EVP of Development at Epic Games and former CTO at Riot Games, has been appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer of Yuga Labs, effective May 22, 2023.
- Seavers replaces outgoing CTO Kerem Atalay, who will transition into a role as a strategic advisor for the company.
- Yuga Labs is a prominent web3 and NFT company known for properties including Bored Ape Yacht Club, Otherside, CryptoPunks, 10KTF, and Meebits.
Logitech G Named Official Peripherals and Headset Supplier for Valorant Champions Tour EMEA
Riot Games has officially designated Logitech G as the exclusive peripherals and headset supplier for the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA.
- Logitech G has been named the official peripherals and headset supplier for the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA.
- Under the partnership, Logitech G will provide equipment for coaching, training, and co-streaming rooms at the Messe Berlin Charlottenburg venue.
- The agreement includes support for the VCT Game Changers EMEA circuit throughout the 2023 season.
Moonton’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Receives Game Approval in China
The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) of China officially granted game approval to Moonton’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in April 2023.
- China’s National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) granted official game approval to Moonton’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in April 2023, seven years after the game's initial 2016 release.
- The approval was part of a batch of 86 mobile game titles authorized by the NPPA, all of which appear to be domestic releases.
- MLBB is owned by ByteDance and will be published in China by East China Normal University Electronic Audiovisual Press Co., Ltd., the same entity that published Riot Games’ Valorant in December 2022.
Building the Future of Sport at Riot Games: Economics
Riot Games is shifting its esports business strategy away from traditional sports models toward a sustainable, long-term economic framework.
- Riot Games is shifting its esports business model away from traditional sports structures to prioritize long-term financial sustainability for the developer and its partner teams.
- To address the financial instability of pro teams, Riot has implemented revenue-sharing guarantees, accelerated payments, and deferred cash obligations for its League of Legends franchised leagues.
- The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) operates without franchise fees, instead requiring teams to invest in marketing, content production, and fan activation in exchange for annual stipends and digital sales revenue.
Battle of Golden Spatula: Market Analysis of the Auto-Chess Spin-off in China
Battle of Golden Spatula, a mobile auto-chess spin-off of Teamfight Tactics, has achieved significant commercial success in the Chinese market.
- Battle of Golden Spatula, a Teamfight Tactics spin-off co-developed by Tencent and Riot Games, has become a top-performing title in China, ranking in the top 10 for both downloads and revenue.
- The game was released in China on August 26, 2021, and is primarily developed by Tencent’s NEXT Studios.
- Industry analysts suggest the game was developed as a locally produced title to bypass regulatory hurdles associated with importing Teamfight Tactics into the Chinese market.
Riot Taps Piece of Magic Entertainment to Bring LEC to Theaters
Riot Games has entered into a partnership with the cinema chain Piece of Magic Entertainment to broadcast League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) events in theaters.
- Riot Games has partnered with theater chain Piece of Magic Entertainment to broadcast League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) events in cinemas across the EMEA region.
- The partnership covers the Spring, Summer, and Season Finals, with the initial broadcast beginning on April 23, 2023.
- The initiative aims to host esports watch parties in up to 70 territories throughout the EMEA region.
