Riot Forge
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Riot Games |
| Defunct | January 2024 |
| Fate | Discontinued amid industry layoffs |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | Riot Games |
Riot Forge was a video game publishing division based in the United States, established by Riot Games, the creators behind the MOBA title League of Legends. Introduced in 2019, its mission centered on financing independent developers to create spin-off games situated within the fictional world of Runeterra, often spotlighting playable Champions. Riot Forge released multiple titles that received favorable critical acclaim before ceasing operations in January 2024, a decision influenced by industry-wide layoffs triggered by a post-COVID-19 pandemic downturn in gaming demand. While critics commended Riot Forge for its support of indie studios and contribution to expanding the franchise’s lore, they also pointed out that inadequate marketing and limited exposure led to disappointing sales figures.
History
Since League of Legends was not originally intended as a narrative-driven platform, its lore was primarily conveyed through brief website descriptions. Riot Forge was established to broaden the storytelling scope of the franchise across various genres, granting developers creative autonomy as long as their projects remained within the canonical Runeterra setting—not diverging into alternate themes such as K/DA or Star Guardians. Riot Games’ strategy prioritized breaking even over generating substantial profits, emphasizing sustainable support for independent creators.
After its 2019 inception, Riot Forge published indie games spanning diverse genres. The label’s initial 2021 releases included Hextech Mayhem, a rhythm-based title, and Ruined King, which featured turn-based RPG mechanics. Subsequent launches encompassed Convergence, a Metroidvania connected to the Netflix series Arcane, and The Mageseeker, a top-down action RPG complemented by a four-issue prologue comic series. The label's last offerings were Song of Nunu, a critically praised 3D platformer, and Bandle Tale, a peaceful life simulation game. Collectively, Riot Forge’s catalog garnered positive feedback on platforms such as Steam and Metacritic.
In 2023, creative director Rowan Parker revealed an interest in developing a League of Legends-themed dating simulator, reflecting community enthusiasm for character "shipping," though he confirmed that no new projects were being accepted at that time.
Closure
In January 2024, Riot Forge was discontinued amid the 2023–2024 video game industry layoffs, coinciding with Riot Games’ reduction of 530 employees—approximately 11% of its total staff. CEO Dylan Jadeja cited unsustainable development expenses as the primary reason for these cuts. Additionally, the team behind Legends of Runeterra was downsized to concentrate exclusively on the core game's ongoing development.
Reception
Cass Marshall from Polygon observed that shutting down Riot Forge would negatively impact fans by removing an accessible gateway for newcomers. Despite criticizing toxicity within the main game’s community, she praised expansions of the universe such as the Arcane series and the 2024 release of Bandle Tale, highlighting its "low-pressure exploration" as a refreshing alternative to competitive gameplay. She also expressed regret over losing talented developers and writers who enriched the lore, warning this would constrict the fictional world and adversely affect both players and the franchise.
Ali Jones at GamesRadar+ described the closure as a "major missed opportunity," attributing Riot Forge’s limited visibility to ineffective marketing despite its strong game lineup. He characterized Riot’s promotional approach as "risk-averse," noting that many players remained unaware of these single-player League of Legends experiences. Jones criticized the delayed distribution of review copies as indicative of neglect and concluded that Riot could have significantly better leveraged Forge’s potential.
Games published
| Year | Title | Developer | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ruined King | Airship Syndicate | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One |
| Hextech Mayhem | Choice Provisions | Nintendo Switch, Windows | |
| 2023 | Convergence | Double Stallion | Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Song of Nunu | Tequila Works | Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
| The Mageseeker | Digital Sun | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
| 2024 | Bandle Tale | Lazy Bear Games | Nintendo Switch, Windows |