PC Gamer - UK (2021-12)

them become deeply familiar over
time. This is most evident in Arcane,
which explores the origin story of
characters like Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn
with a shocking level of tragedy.
Arcane tells its story with such
conviction that you can’t help but be
drawn into it. “Our success has been
built by a willingness to step into the
unknown and trust heart over the
science and business logic,” Merrill
says. “Rioters make things with love,
and I think players can feel when
something is made with love or not.”

CULTURE SHOCK
That so much of what Riot produces
is made with an uncommon level of
artistry is evident, but Merrill doesn’t
like to shy away from the challenges
either. Throughout our interview, he
talked at length about the blood,
sweat and tears Riot developers pour
into creating these characters, the
games and its wider universe. But the
most important thing, he says, is trust.
“Trust is the foundation of our teams,”
he says. “It enables collaboration, and
it enables people to be on the same
side of the table and to be oriented
towards doing a better job.”
But the problem with trust is that
it is so easily broken. Back in 2018,
Riot Games entered the spotlight in a
very different kind of way thanks to
widespread reports of its sexist and
discriminatory workplace culture. As
a result, multiple lawsuits were filed
(some as early as this year),
employees staged walkouts,
government agencies got involved,
and Riot’s leadership had to try and
find a new way forward.
Though the culture at Riot has
reportedly improved, there’s still
good reasons to be concerned about
whether Riot is truly a place for all

RIGHT: Riot also

publishes games by

other developers, and

even has a tabletop

games division.

COVER FEATURE

RIOT TV MUSIC GAMES

types of people. “Riot takes every

allegation incredibly seriously, and I

think people generally believe that,

which is important,” Merrill says.

“But I also think scepticism can often

be healthy, and that our sceptics are

coming from a good place. We believe

Riot is about [certain] things, but is it?

That’s a healthy dynamic as long as it

remains in that area of trying to make

the company better, and the proof is

really in how we execute and the

progress we’re making.”

Even so, Merrill says he’s

confident that Riot is moving in the

right direction. “I think that type of

question is important to ask not just

to Riot’s leadership, but also to the

rank-and-file and our female leaders

and employees all over the world.

And I think that any thorough

analysis will conclude that the vast,

vast, vast majority of Rioters believe

in the company, leadership and the

future of the organisation.”

STRONG FINISH

Whether the lawsuits and

allegations will ever stop looming

over Riot is up to its leadership team

and their willingness to hold

everyone accountable. But even as

concerns about Riot’s culture

remain, Merrill says its 3,000-plus

employees are as passionate as ever

about chasing those ‘oh my god’

moments. And right now it feels like

Riot’s ambition is matched only by

its ability to realise it.

That’s the secret of what League

of Legends has become: a vortex of

pop culture and fantasy distilled into

a cast of characters that transcend

the physical boundaries of the

three-laned map they battle over. A

universe that isn’t confined to games,

music, books, or TV – but in

whatever Riot thinks might exceed

the expectations of its fans.

For Merrill, one of those moments

was the 2018 World Finals, “We had

20,000 people in a stadium watching

League of Legends being played as a

sport with these incredible pro teams

and great players, with a hundred

million people watching it online,

and a K-pop band with a sick music

video and incredible track, with

augmented- reality characters on

stage. People were like, ‘What?

What?’ So many different teams had

to work together to pull off that

moment, but that’s the promise of

what Riot can do.”

RIOT UNIVERSE

A rundown of all of Riot’s games

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
An intensely competitive
MOBA that’s also the world’s
most popular PC game. Surely
you’ve heard of League of
Legends by now!

Our score: 82

TEAMFIGHT TACTICS

The autobattler that’s

effectively a LoL minigame, TFT

is one part LoL and one part

chess. A great way to wind down

after a tough match.

Our score: N/A

LEGENDS OF RUNETERRA

This spin-off card game gives

Magic: The Gathering a distinct

LoL makeover while innovating

in key areas. Has some killer

singleplayer modes too.

Our score: 85

VALORANT

Riot’s take on hardcore

competitive FPSes is

unexpectedly brillaint – a kind

of mishmash of Counter-Strike

and Overwatch.

Our score: 90

WILD RIFT

The mobile spin-off of LoL is

actually excellent. It features

shorter rounds and is much

easier to learn, and the controls

are actually good. No, seriously!

Our score: N/A

MARC MERILL

Marc cofounded Riot

Games with Brandon

Beck in 2006, served

as its co-CEO for many

years, and now acts as

co-chairman. The

champion Tryndamere

is named after his

gaming handle.