Impact of the Riot Layoffs on the LEC Production: A Deep Dive Analysis
Last week it was reported that Riot Games had laid off 530 of their employees as part of a wider restructuring effort.
One of the wider-reaching impacts of the layoffs was the anticipated ripple effect it would have on Riot’s various broadcasting teams and products.
The LEC is one such product that was anticipated to suffer from the reduced manpower.
All Known LEC Members Laid Off
The following is a list of all known LEC personnel who were let go in the 23/1/2024 layoffs:
[table id=17 /]
Compiled list by @btwbluwu
27 (that are known) former members of the LEC team in various capacities have been released from their duties at Riot.
Included among them is the head of production, the executive producer, and the live production manager. The executive producer for events was also laid off.
Adding to this are various managers and engineers responsible for the back end of the LEC show.
Moreover, and most noticeable to the audience, will be the shrinking of the observer team – going from 3 observers to 1.
Criticism and Observed Effect on the LEC Product Following the Layoffs
Some of the strongest proponents of the LEC as the best product Riot still maintains in the West have stated that the layoffs are projected to significantly impact the ability of the LEC to continue producing at the high quality it has been maintaining.
Moreover, with the new Riot Games Arena, Riot had aimed for a more ambitious product – technically speaking.
Some of the changes that had been highlighted as part of the briefing for the remodeling had mentioned Riot’s idea of utilizing the space for their multiple esports titles based in EMEA.
The concept of the stage being able to transform depending on which game the arena was hosting is indeed an ambitious one, and one that required manpower in all degrees.
With said manpower having been reduced, it will be interesting to see going forward how the LEC broadcast will maintain its current standards.
Moreover, much of the criticism has also been levelled in the role choices that Riot has decided to prune during their layoffs, resulting in core members of the production now absent mid-Winter Split.
The observer team in the LEC has been touted as one of the best and most innovative in the business, including outside of League of Legends.
Praise is frequently heaped on the team for silently supporting the LEC to such a level of detail, and this is among the aspects that will be most missed in the LEC going forwards.
Interestingly enough, this weekend’s series of games from the LEC has been one of the smoothest in recent times according to many viewers.
However, it comes at the detriment of many features the LEC had offered in times past being lynched in favor of a more straightforward broadcast of games and casting.
A Beacon in the West: Cut Down
While Riot’s wave of unemployment continues to see ripple effects, what has truly shocked many, is the volume of EMEA-centric cuttings that have been done.
Specifically, to the EMEA League of Legends circuit. As mentioned above, over 27 names, many high-profile hires and crucial support staff, has been removed overnight.
What made this decision shocking was the amidst the struggles for Riot in maintaining a strong Western viewership – their flagship product the LCS having recently undergone radical overhauls to save itself – the LEC has been a consistent product for viewership and for Riot.
A Grim Peek Behind the Curtains
A freshly released report by Richard Lewis compiling comments from various hidden sources on the LEC broadcast paints a grim image of the current state of the LEC.
Not only was there a general air of unease days before the lay offs began, rumors had been circulating between colleagues that they were coming but no one knew who it would affect.
Moreover, in the report, many commented that the decision on who to cut had come from higher management that had failed to take into account critical roles.
Those decisions have now massively impacted the LEC crew, who were already reportedly understaffed prior to the layoffs.
Within the report, comments from the remaining broadcast indicated that prior to the layoffs, many staff members had already been wearing many hats, as encouraged by Riot themselves.
Thus, the layoffs have only added to the mental fatigue of the remaining crew.
Among the many LEC layoffs were critical members of staff that not only worked on the LEC, but also other global tournaments such as MSI, regional leagues, or VALORANT when required, adding the layer of complexity that comes from such a ripple.
A Stopgap Measure
“The reason the show went well was because they flew in a bunch of people from their Stryker broadcast facility in Dublin and from Los Angeles” said one source with knowledge of the broadcast details. “They spent money on flights and hotels while paying people they laid off because it would have been a disaster if they had let it go on. They also basically cut the pre and post shows, had no writers or producers for creative segments and scaled back the scope of in-game replays.”
“We had help with observers and engineers” another worker on the broadcast explained “but we haven’t been told if they are temporary or not. Many on the crew are expecting they won’t have that support next week which will be the real test.”
Excerpts from Richard Lewis’ report on the LEC.
Looking Ahead
As darkly predicted by one of the workers, such a temporary measure as this weekend by Riot is not a long-term strategy and Week 4 will likely truly be the real test for the skeleton crew that remains.
Riot Games will have a tough road ahead as they attempt to keep their EMEA product afloat. The reports that continue to flood in from informants has painted a dire image behind the scenes, and one that is not sustainable as it stands.
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