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Riot Games
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<p>Riot Games, Inc. is an American <a href="/facts/Video_game_developer/6gbHyvDu">video game developer</a>, <a href="/facts/Video_game_publisher/VIhF1r4J">publisher</a>, and <a href="/facts/Esports/HJHyo3bC">esports</a> tournament organizer based in <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles/pyXpYEX9">Los Angeles</a>. It was founded in September 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill to develop <i><a href="/facts/League_of_Legends/zBdwWzjN">League of Legends</a></i> and went on to develop <a href="/facts/List_of_League_of_Legends_media/mj7vFG8s">several spin-off</a> games and the unrelated <a href="/facts/First-person_shooter/LQQX6yAw">first-person shooter</a> game <i><a href="/facts/Valorant/kucfAkeX">Valorant</a></i>. In 2011, Riot Games was acquired by Chinese <a href="/facts/Conglomerate_(company)/YBbUVg1d">conglomerate</a> <a href="/facts/Tencent/88gpEqLy">Tencent</a>. Its publishing arm, <a href="/facts/Riot_Forge/Nr5RkdeX">Riot Forge</a>, oversaw the production of <i>League of Legends</i> spin-offs by other developers until its shutdown in January 2024. The company worked with <a href="/facts/Fortiche/3SWYcx7L">Fortiche</a> to release <i><a href="/facts/Arcane_(TV_series)/LtqNQRuy">Arcane</a></i>, a television series based on the <i>League of Legends</i> universe. </p><p>Riot Games operates <a href="/facts/League_of_Legends_in_esports/0rQvXUdr"><i>League of Legends</i> esports leagues</a> and the <a href="/facts/Valorant_Champions_Tour/KrbjTsmz"><i>Valorant</i> Champions Tour</a>. The company, which had 23 offices worldwide as of 2023, sells corporate sponsorships, merchandise, and streaming rights for its leagues. Riot has faced allegations and lawsuits alleging a toxic <a href="/facts/Organizational_culture/FdAzHDyV">workplace culture</a>, including <a href="/facts/Sexism/laBoxq0Q">gender discrimination</a> and <a href="/facts/Sexual_harassment_in_the_workplace_in_the_United_States/XWgFS0YA">sexual harassment</a>. The company was criticized for its use of <a href="/facts/Arbitration_clause/c7txxt11">forced arbitration</a> in response to these allegations. </p>