Submitted 9 months ago by simple@lemm.ee to games@lemmy.world
https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/2024-rioter-update
TLDR: Riot is downscaling. The severance package is great but it’s another round of layoffs in the industry.
This will also majorly affect Legends of Runeterra. They’re putting the game on life support it seems, and will focus on the PvE mode.
They’re also shutting down Riot Forge, their collaboration with other studios to make smaller games with their IP.
The severance package is great
It always baffles me to think that there is no minimum mandatory severance pay in the good old US of A, but considering 6 months of salary is “great” is saying even more about how low the bar is.
My friend works here and is not getting their contract renewed. Luckily they knew it wasn’t getting renewed but it still sucks. They’ve loved working there.
6 months severance isn’t half bad though, I hope they can find another job they’ll love within that time.
If I’m interpreting the CEOs Post post correctly, the severance package is only applicable if your contract gets canceled prematurely or if you are being laid off. If your contract ends and is not renewed, all obligations are fulfilled, so there is no severance package since the contract simply ends. (Timel/Project based contract). I could be wrong though. It would make sense to have project or time-based contracts - these layoffs mainly affect the “permanent employees.”
Their contract wasn’t ended as far as I know and would’ve been ending in about a month or so anyways.
My friend got “downscaled” today. Real dick move.
To be honest, he got what he deserved working for a company like riot.
Yeah, total dick move given that working for Riot games is a fundamental human right. The bastards!
BudgieMania@kbin.social 9 months ago
I just hope that these companies don't have the gall to complain about a lack of manpower or expertise availability a few years down the line. Because by coordinating all these layoffs, they are currently creating a vacuum in which a lot of professionals in the industry won't have any chance to acquire experience and develop their skills, and many will probably have to change their career trajectory significantly just to ensure their economic well-being. And once they see how greener the grass is outside the videogame industry, let me assure you, they won't be coming back.
If you are not willing to stick with your professionals through your thin, you don't deserve their availability and effort through your thick.
maness300@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Don’t worry, they will.
Companies aren’t like people with friends who hold them accountable for lying.
Carighan@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Of course they will. It’s all driven by investor money and C-suite bonuses, the rest of managed just bends over and pulls down their pants. If the investors think gaming is hot, everyone will desperately hire. If they are meh on it, everyone shuts down.
You might think this sounds like an unhealthy company model to let investors run everything like that. And you might be right! But we also created a system where the people making these decisions are monetarily involved with the investors, not opposed to them. Hence what hte investors say goes.