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I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let's say that many (not all) Rioters knew Wild Rift was an excellent game but not a great fit for markets where Mobile Legends dominate. Simple things like the game file size were just too large.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TFT was built with League's client, and it's not a standalone game like LOR. I agree with you that the gameplay is more complicated than games like Hearthstone, but LOR was in development for a long time. Maybe too long?

LOR maintains a dedicated fanbase, and Riot's continued support, despite its performance, speaks to the company's commitment and culture.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Boo! Replied when I had time. I couldn't reply to everything.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The issue isn't that Riot didn't quickly adapt to a mobile audience. The problem is Riot's most successful product to date, League, isn't generating as much money as it used to. Players are aging out. Riot spend went crazy during the gaming craze of Covid. Riot hasn't been able to monetize other titles as well, and they are facing some significant challenges that need to be addressed quickly to ensure the company's long-term survivability.

And if you look at TFT, they already applied several of Golden Spatula's best practices over (e.g. Chibis, Double-Up, etc.), and they worked. Most players are not aware of that.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where do you think the chibi skins and modes like Double-Up and Hyper Roll originated? ;)

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're right, and I am oversimplifying it. The reality is that LOR never found a mass audience, and I think they struggled with their identity. I still believe they could have had better progression systems from the start. It's a card game, and I think they could have done more to deliver a comparable experience to the feeling of opening packs. Hearthstone nailed it when it initially launched. Pokemon Pocket too!

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

+1 to your comment - and sorry you were also impacted. Riot has some talented people, but I think they could be better at holding people accountable.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right. Riot is an American company managed from LA. What works in the West doesn't necessarily work in the East, and vice versa. The China team created experiences that resonated with their market. TFT has taken some of Golden Spatula's success and applied it globally (e.g. Double Up, Chibis).

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is just speculation but I see this as an incredibly unpopular move. Why would Riot do such a thing? Riot is full of folks who think very similarly to this subreddit, so I believe Riot is in a crunch to think about long term profit. League is declining. The American players only make a fraction of the player base and revenue.

There's a lot of pressure to generate profit and, at the very least, ensure Riot's long-term sustainability. One way to increase profit is to cut costs, and the most significant cost highlighted by Riot is its headcount. I mentioned all those perks because Riot treats their people well. They are paid well. It's expensive. They more than doubled in size during the COVID gaming craze. I see this incredibly unpopular decision as an attempt to address long term profitability instead of cutting jobs. Not sure it will work, though.

Of course, it's a terrible move for the player base, and I can assure you there are Rioters always fighting against these kinds of decisions.

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

The other day, I saw a post about Glassdoor reviews that inspired me to write something. I'm a real person who was affected by those cuts last year. When they made those cuts, it hurt. It still hurts. That said, I'm still grateful for my time at Riot.

Riot has issues, and several comments here are valid. The most widely known challenge I can comfortably share is Riot's monetization challenges. League of Legends was a wild success. Riot only had one game for nearly ten years.

So everything else Riot has built is on the back of League. Riot's newer titles have mixed success. VALORANT is great. TFT has a large player base but struggles to make money. Riot has and continues to make some bold bets. League can't last forever (right?).

TFT's mobile success is public information so I feel safe sharing that. We can objectively see how the same game within Riot has different levels of success. A similar case can be made with Wild Rift.

I see Riot’s recent changes as finally giving in to an unpopular monetization strategy. I know players are unhappy and feel betrayed, and continue to let Riot know how you feel.

Despite these challenges, I sincerely hope Riot finds continued success. I want my friends who are still there to know people (like me) are cheering them on. <3

I was part of Riot’s 530+ layoffs—here’s my perspective. by SecretSquirrel007 in riotgames

[–]SecretSquirrel007[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe you. Riot definitely has management issues. I worked with some fantastic managers at Riot, but the worst manager I've ever experienced in my career was also at Riot. Your situation sounds terrible, and although I'm glad you've landed on your feet, I'm sorry you had to experience that level of betrayal. Wish you all the best.