Who makes it · Developer and publisher
Riot Games
Based in Los Angeles, California, United States Founded 2006 Part of Tencent
Riot Games develops and publishes League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight Tactics and related games, and runs their professional esports leagues. Its games are free to play and earn money mainly from cosmetic items, passes and other in-game purchases, including paid random reward chests.
Track-record badges
What stands out, worst first
- Workplace misconduct
Workplace misconduct findings
California Civil Rights Department, 2021-2023: $100 million settlement and consent decree over alleged sex discrimination and harassment, with three years of independent monitoring. - Labour dispute
Labour dispute
May 2019: more than 150 employees walked out over Riot's use of forced arbitration for harassment and discrimination claims. - Large layoffs
Large layoffs
January 2024: about 530 jobs (around 11% of staff) cut and Riot Forge closed. - Publishes odds
Publishes drop odds
February 2018: began publishing drop rates for League of Legends Hextech and Masterwork chests, when most countries did not require it.
Track record
What's on the record, newest first
- Court case
Brazilian first-instance court ordered R$15 million in loot-box damages, under appeal
In a case brought by the child-rights group ANCED, the 1st Children and Youth Court of Brazil's Federal District ordered Riot's Brazilian subsidiary to pay R$15 million in collective moral damages over League of Legends loot boxes, finding them an abusive practice towards children. It also ordered odds disclosure, age verification and refunds for minors' unauthorised purchases. It is a first-instance ruling and is under appeal: Brazil's Ministry of Justice said in October 2026 that the appeals were awaiting judgement by the Federal District's court of appeal (TJDFT).
Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT), Brazil - Other
Allowed betting companies to sponsor esports teams
Riot opened the betting sponsorship category to top-tier League of Legends and Valorant teams in the Americas and EMEA, with Riot vetting each sponsor and keeping its own broadcasts free of betting advertising. Riot had previously restricted betting sponsorships.
Riot Games - Labour
Laid off about 530 employees and closed Riot Forge
Riot laid off about 530 employees, around 11% of its workforce, closed its Riot Forge publishing label and reduced the Legends of Runeterra team. CEO Dylan Jadeja said costs had grown to an unsustainable level.
TechCrunch - Court case
Court approved $100 million sex-discrimination settlement
California's civil rights agency and a class of women employees and contractors alleged systemic sex discrimination, harassment and retaliation at Riot. Riot agreed in December 2021 to a $100 million settlement, including $80 million for about 1,600 women, pay-equity reviews and three years of independent workplace monitoring; a court gave final approval on 16 May 2023. The claims were settled, not decided at trial.
California Civil Rights Department - Labour
Employees walked out over forced arbitration
More than 150 employees walked out of Riot's Los Angeles offices to protest forced arbitration, after Riot sought to move two employees' discrimination lawsuits into private arbitration. Riot said new hires could opt out of arbitration for sexual harassment and assault claims, kept existing cases in arbitration, and said it would not retaliate against participants.
Engadget - Workplace
Investigation reported gender discrimination and harassment
Kotaku published an investigation based on 28 current and former employees describing alleged gender bias in hiring and promotion, harassment and a 'bro culture' at Riot. Riot said at the time that it had a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination and harassment. The claims were later the subject of lawsuits.
Kotaku - Good practice
Published drop rates for League of Legends loot chests
Riot published the odds for League of Legends Hextech Chests and Masterwork Chests, describing it as offering transparency for a system that had been opaque. At the time most countries outside China did not require odds disclosure.
Kotaku
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Games in the guide
What Riot Games made or published
Each game's money rating is its own: it comes from how that game makes money, not from the company's record.
Last checked 2 November 2026. Sources: kotaku.com, kotaku.com, www.engadget.com, www.videogameschronicle.com, calcivilrights.ca.gov, techcrunch.com, www.riotgames.com, www.tjdft.jus.br, www.lickslegal.com, www.gov.br, en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something wrong or missing? Send a correction.