Riot Canceled Their Own Smash Bros. Game

Summary

Riot Games recently canceled the development of 'Pool Party,' a platform fighter game set in the League of Legends universe, reflecting the company's strategic reassessment of the esports market and the genre's popularity. With esports profitability declining and the fighting game genre being volatile, Riot's decision to focus on other projects like '2x KO' and the rising success of 'Valorant' aligns with their trend of refining and evolving game genres. The cancellation highlights the challenges of creating a hit in the competitive party fighter space, where few games have achieved the viral success of 'Super Smash Bros.'

Takeaways

• 📰 Riot Games recently canceled a game project, reflecting its current strategic decisions.
• 🤝 The news was initially reported by Miky Clov from the Washington Post, indicating a credible source.
• 🕹️ Riot was known for a long time primarily for League of Legends but has since expanded its game portfolio.
• 📅 Riot announced several new titles during their anniversary, including Legends of Runeterra, Valorant, Project L, and Project F.
• ⚔️ Riot's canceled game, codenamed 'Pool Party,' was a platform fighter similar to Super Smash Bros, involving 70-80 employees.
• 🎮 Riot has found success by identifying market gaps and evolving game genres, with Valorant being a notable success.
• 📉 The cancellation was partly due to a reassessment of the viability of the esports scene and the specific game's genre.
• 🔄 Many employees from the canceled project were reassigned within Riot, though some were laid off.
• ⚖️ The platform fighter genre has a challenging history with balancing and maintaining player interest, influencing Riot's decision.
• 🎉 Riot's focus on broader, more casual audiences for their games has contributed to their success in various genres.

Q & A

What is the significance of the news about Riot Games cancelling a game?

The news is significant because it reflects on Riot's current strategy and decision-making process, showing their willingness to cancel projects that may not align with their long-term goals or market trends.

Who originally broke the news about Riot Games cancelling a project?

The news was originally broken out by Miky Clout, who is responsible for covering gaming news for the Washington Post, indicating a credible source.

What is Riot Games' history with game development prior to this cancellation?

Riot Games was known for focusing on 'League of Legends' for about 10 years. They later diversified with games like 'Teamfight Tactics', 'Legends of Runeterra', and projects like Project L and Project F, as well as Riot Forge for indie games.

What is the codename of the cancelled Riot Games project?

The cancelled project was codenamed 'Pool Party'.

How many employees were working on 'Pool Party' when it was cancelled?

Approximately 70 to 80 employees were working on 'Pool Party' when it was cancelled.

What genre was 'Pool Party' intended to be, and how does it relate to existing games?

'Pool Party' was intended to be a platform fighter game, similar to 'Super Smash Bros', set within the League of Legends universe.

Why did Riot Games consider developing a platform fighter game?

Riot Games saw an opportunity to build and support the game's esports scene, as they believed they could offer more to the competitive ecosystem than existing companies like Nintendo.

What factors might have contributed to the cancellation of 'Pool Party'?

Factors include a shift in the esports scene's profitability, difficulty in creating a successful platform fighter game, and a reassessment of consumer appetite for a 'Smash' competitor.

What happened to the 'Pool Party' team after the project was cancelled?

Approximately half of the team received offers to be reassigned within Riot Games, while others sought new positions or were potentially laid off.

What is the current status of Riot Games' other fighting game project, '2x KO'?

'2x KO' is still under development with a planned release in 2025, and the team is continuing their work on this title.

How does the cancellation of 'Pool Party' reflect on the broader trends in the gaming industry?

The cancellation reflects a cautious approach by Riot Games to the gaming market, where they are prioritizing projects with higher potential for success and avoiding genres that are difficult to break into or are experiencing a downturn.