Riot Games announces second round of layoffs, affects League of Legends development

Riot Games has confirmed another round of layoffs, impacting the development team behind its popular PC game, League of Legends.

This marks the second time the studio has reduced its workforce in 2023, following a larger layoff earlier this year involving 530 employees.

In a statement on Tuesday, Riot Games explained that the job cuts were part of broader strategic changes aimed at ensuring the long-term success and growth of League of Legends. Co-founder Marc Merrill clarified that the decision was not motivated by cost-cutting measures but rather by a desire to align the team with the right expertise for the future of the game.

“This isn’t about reducing headcount to save money—it’s about making sure we have the right expertise so that League continues to be great for another 15 years and beyond,” Merrill said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He added that while team effectiveness is prioritized over team size, the League team would eventually expand as part of the game's next development phase.

Riot Games did not disclose the exact number of affected staff, but a spokesperson confirmed to Eurogamer that 32 employees would be impacted, including 27 from the League of Legends team and five from publishing. Those laid off will receive a severance package, including at least six months' pay, annual bonuses, job placement assistance, and continued health coverage.

This comes after Riot Game’s January layoffs, which involved 11% of its global workforce, as the company refocused on sustainability and streamlining operations. CEO Dylan Jadeja had stated at the time that some of the studio’s investments had not met expectations, leading to unsustainable costs. Riot Games is now looking forward to the next phase of League of Legends, with plans to reveal more details about its future ambitions.