Latest news with #RiotGames
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Arcane' Season 2 Gets a Lavish Home Release, Just in Time for Emmy Season
With Emmy season in full swing and a lot of eyes on whether Riot Games and Fortiche's League of Legends studio will sweep an already steep competitive lineup of animated shows, GKids has announced a slew of home release pre-order editions for Arcane season two, freeing it from the confines of streaming. In a press release, GKids announced that the home release of Arcane season two will feature a limited-run Collector's Edition. This will include SteelBook Editions in both 4K UHD and Blu-ray formats, a standard Blu-ray edition, and options for Digital Download-to-Own. Bonus features in Arcane's home release will include an artist gallery, a writer's room, and artist breakdowns of its three acts, as well as storyboards and music videos. All editions of Arcane season two are available for pre-order on GKids' website. GKids' home video pre-orders announcement for Arcane season two comes following the animated video game adaptation's two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Animated Program and Outstanding Sound Editing. In the series' history, Arcane has been nominated for seven Emmys, making it one of the most decorated video game-adapted series ever. To celebrate this achievement, Fortiche released an illustration of Jinx, a tradition it's established whenever Arcane is mentioned during awards season. Given that 2024 was a banner year for animation, it remains to be seen if Arcane can achieve similar success with its second and final season, potentially bringing home more awards. This success has notably legitimized video game adaptations as a valuable and worthwhile pursuit in the entertainment industry, one worth nurturing—especially for Riot Games—in the years to come. Humbled to receive nominations at this year's #Emmys, including Outstanding Animated Program. Congratulations to cast and crew 💙 Artwork by our talented artists. ✨#Fortiche #Arcane #Fortichers — Fortiche prod (@ForticheProd) July 16, 2025While we preferred season one of Arcane over season two, io9's review celebrated the show for its poignant queer representation and its extraordinary animation. Fortunately, aside from Riot Games' 'Timebomb'-focused post-show music video, the company isn't showing any signs of slowing down in producing more animated adventures within the expansive world of League of Legends. In other words, fans can look forward to exploring different narratives from the game without having to play League itself—something both Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill and players caution curious Netflix viewers about. Both seasons of Arcane are available to stream on Netflix. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Riot Games, Easy Onair partner for League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Global gaming giant, Riot Games, has announced a two-year partnership with local esports production house Easy Onair Sdn Bhd to launch the League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG (LTC), a new national tournament for Malaysia and Singapore players. The deal, a community-driven initiative aims to rebuild the League of Legends competitive scene with open registration, inclusive opportunities, and full broadcast coverage. The LTC will serve as the official qualifier for the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wildcard Playoffs, a key route for teams eyeing a spot in the region's top-tier league. The winning team from the LTC will advance to the LCP Wildcard Playoffs, where they will compete against regional champions from India, South Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore/Malaysia. This stage serves as the official pathway for teams to enter the LCP Promotion and Relegation tournament, where they will compete for a spot in the LCP. Country Manager for Riot Games Indonesia & Malaysia, Resha Pradipta said 'We are proud to partner with Easy Onair for the League of Legends Titans Cup MYSG. This long-term collaboration is a reflection of our belief in the MYSG region's potential. We're excited to support local talent and build a true path-to-pro ecosystem.' Easy Onair Sdn Bhd, a thriving esports production company in Malaysia, will lead tournament operations and content execution throughout the two-year cycle. Their responsibilities include tournament management, live broadcast production, caster recruitment, and community engagement initiatives tailored for MYSG audiences. Kuroshi Hatamake, Director, Easy Onair Sdn Bhd said 'This collaboration is a major milestone for the esports community in Malaysia and Singapore. We're honoured to work with Riot Games on a long-term vision that creates real opportunities for teams, players, and talents across the region.' The League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG will feature open registration for all eligible players from Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament will follow a multi-stage format, including group stages, playoffs, and finals. Matches will be broadcast with local casters, analysis, and highlights. Ultimately, one team will advance from the Titans Cup to represent Malaysia and Singapore in the LCP Wildcard Playoffs. Participants could register through link and the tournament will be broadcasted in League of Legends Malaysia official Facebook and YouTube channel and Easy OnAir official Tiktok channel. More information, including registration opening, prize pool details, and tournament dates, will be released soon via League of Legends Malaysia official instagram @leagueoflegendsmy and Facebook League of Legends (MY, SG) and Easy Onair's official platforms.
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Riot Games, Easy Onair partner for League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Global gaming giant, Riot Games, has announced a two-year partnership with local esports production house Easy Onair Sdn Bhd to launch the League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG (LTC), a new national tournament for Malaysia and Singapore players. The deal, a community-driven initiative aims to rebuild the League of Legends competitive scene with open registration, inclusive opportunities, and full broadcast coverage. The LTC will serve as the official qualifier for the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wildcard Playoffs, a key route for teams eyeing a spot in the region's top-tier league. The winning team from the LTC will advance to the LCP Wildcard Playoffs, where they will compete against regional champions from India, South Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore/Malaysia. This stage serves as the official pathway for teams to enter the LCP Promotion and Relegation tournament, where they will compete for a spot in the LCP. Country Manager for Riot Games Indonesia & Malaysia, Resha Pradipta said 'We are proud to partner with Easy Onair for the League of Legends Titans Cup MYSG. This long-term collaboration is a reflection of our belief in the MYSG region's potential. We're excited to support local talent and build a true path-to-pro ecosystem.' Easy Onair Sdn Bhd, a thriving esports production company in Malaysia, will lead tournament operations and content execution throughout the two-year cycle. Their responsibilities include tournament management, live broadcast production, caster recruitment, and community engagement initiatives tailored for MYSG audiences. Kuroshi Hatamake, Director, Easy Onair Sdn Bhd said 'This collaboration is a major milestone for the esports community in Malaysia and Singapore. We're honoured to work with Riot Games on a long-term vision that creates real opportunities for teams, players, and talents across the region.' The League of Legends Titans Cup MY & SG will feature open registration for all eligible players from Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament will follow a multi-stage format, including group stages, playoffs, and finals. Matches will be broadcast with local casters, analysis, and highlights. Ultimately, one team will advance from the Titans Cup to represent Malaysia and Singapore in the LCP Wildcard Playoffs. Participants could register through link and the tournament will be broadcasted in League of Legends Malaysia official Facebook and YouTube channel and Easy OnAir official Tiktok channel. More information, including registration opening, prize pool details, and tournament dates, will be released soon via League of Legends Malaysia official instagram @leagueoflegendsmy and Facebook League of Legends (MY, SG) and Easy Onair's official platforms.
Saudi Gazette
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT
THE ES TIMES — I've recently been following the escalating controversy rocking the VALORANT scene in North America. Riot Games has issued an official response to the mounting allegations of match-fixing, cheating, and integrity violations within Challengers NA competitions. Statement from Riot's Global Head of VALORANT Esports Leo Faria, the global head of VALORANT Esports, addressed the matter through the VCT X account, confirming that Riot Games takes these allegations very seriously. According to Faria, Riot began gathering information immediately after the reports surfaced in early May. To further the process, Riot Games enlisted the help of several integrity partners, including IBIA, Sportradar, and GRID, to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. To date, Riot has not confirmed conclusive evidence. Investigating Carefully "We are thoroughly investigating all allegations," Faria said. He added that community input is welcome, but only credible evidence will inform decisions. He emphasized the importance of whistleblowers and community awareness, but reminded that legal action must be a priority. Riot also encouraged anyone with credible information to report it directly. The statement read: "If someone approaches you with information regarding misconduct, don't react—report it immediately." I personally like this approach, as it sets a strong example for professionally handling complex issues. The Controversy Began:Gares' Revealing Video The crisis escalated after Sean Gares, the general manager of Shopify Rebellion, posted a video titled "The Dark Side of Competitive VALORANT." He focused on a user named "bray," accusing him of paying players to intentionally lose matches. He also linked him to cryptocurrency-related groups rumored to be run by a person known as Cooker. Both parties denied the accusations. Bray wrote: "I didn't do anything. I have nothing to do with any of this. Stop posting about me." While Cooker tweeted that he doesn't "engage in any manipulation or anything like that." Accusations against professional players Gares also presented what he believes is potential evidence implicating Adam "Fair" Elharoun and Bob "Bob" Tran, who currently play for FlyQuest RED. According to him, they intentionally lost a match against Burger Boys and cheated in another match against Shopify Rebellion. He also mentioned that two other teams may have been involved, but chose not to name them, citing a desire to "protect people." FlyQuest RED's reaction In response to the accusations, FlyQuest RED has decided to temporarily suspend Bob. The team will field a replacement player while an internal investigation is conducted. The team's statement read: "We have been informed of the situation and will take the necessary time to evaluate everything." However, this decision has drawn criticism from the gaming community, with some pointing out that Marvel Rivals player Cooper 'coopertastic' remains on the FlyQuest roster, despite his offensive statements, which included transphobic and sexist slurs. Looking Ahead As the investigation continues, attention is focused on the actions of the individuals and organizations involved. Riot's approach appears balanced and, hopefully, leads to a fair resolution. With the rapid growth of the esports industry, competitive integrity must remain a top priority. Raouf Belhamra – Esports and Gaming writer
The Verge
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Riot turns to sports betting to help fund its esports leagues
As the esports industry searches for new sources of revenue, Riot Games has opened up its League of Legends and Valorant esports leagues to sports betting sponsorships. The decision will permit tier one organizations – or the highest level of professional players – in the North and South America and European esports leagues of Valorant and LoL to secure paid sponsorships from sports betting companies, a previously prohibited category of sponsor. According to Riot, the reason for this change is because it's what the players and esports organizations have been asking for. 'We agreed it was time to open up this category to create more revenue opportunities for teams,' wrote John Needham, president of publishing and esports at Riot Games. There was a time in esports history when sponsorship dollars flowed in, generating lots of revenue for game publishers and enabling organizations to pay players salaries in the millions of dollars. Esports was seen as an investment vehicle, with media corporations and even traditional sports companies investing their dollars in hopes of capitalizing on what was then an untapped but steadily growing market. One of the most famous examples, Activision Blizzard's Overwatch League, sold franchise slots for tens of millions of dollars to investors like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Comcast. But the comparatively small revenue these leagues generate in conjunction with the high costs to run them, combined with the general economic downturn of the covid-19 pandemic, meant that companies could not get a return on their investments and began pulling their money out. It's forced esports organizations and esports game publishers alike to find new ways to pay players and staff or risk shuttering entirely, as the Overwatch League has. Over the last few years, Riot has changed how its esports leagues have worked to better weather what's being called the 'esports winter' or general contraction of the esports industry. The LoL league ecosystem has gotten smaller, thereby eliminating some teams' financial burden of participating (it costs $10 million dollars to have a slot) while also reducing Riot's financial responsibilities via its revenue sharing agreement with partnered teams. The addition of new categories of sponsors is the company's latest attempt to bring sustainability to its corner of the struggling esports scene. And sports betting companies are well-poised to fill that funding gap. While gambling sites aren't the only game in town if your esport needs money, they are some of the best paying. (Even The Verge is not immune with Vox Media displaying ads for gambling companies on its sites and podcasts.) Stake is an infamously known quantity in the video game streaming ecosystem, throwing eye-watering sums of cash at the most popular streamers to either make content on their own platform (Stake owns livestreaming site and Twitch competitor Kick) or to gamble on stream to their millions of viewers. Until now, Riot has prohibited its esports partner organizations from taking sponsorships from gambling companies. But the publisher says its guidelines can help implement the new type of sponsorship in a 'responsible' way with guidelines for teams and Riot to follow. These guidelines include Riot vetting all potential betting sponsors, teams adhering to an integrity program, and the prohibition of gambling ads on team jerseys or official Riot broadcasts. The formal inclusion of sports betting comes with significant risk to both competitive and moral integrity. Kids and young adults watch these streams, as well as the media around them. While Riot is not letting gambling companies put their logos on jerseys or the official broadcasts, the media around its esport is likely to become even more inundated with offers for gambling. This is what we've already seen with programming and podcasts focused on traditional sports like the NBA and NFL in the years since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018. There have also already been allegations of and investigations into match fixing in both League of Legends and Valorant esports, with Riot recently banning two players from Riot competitions for three years. The addition of sports betting sponsorship – which could become a significant if not main source of revenue for many teams – has the potential to exacerbate existing competitive integrity issues as well as open up a potential avenue of harassment for players. With esports revenues still comparatively low, the industry has been getting increasingly desperate for any new sources of funding. Riot has already faced criticism for participating in events funded by Saudi Arabia as a part of the country's longstanding sportswashing strategy. Riot's inclusion of sports betting for League of Legends and Valorant will likely be no less controversial.
