Did Riot Games Leave Russia?
Riot Games, the American video game developer and owner of popular games like League of Legends and Valorant, did not withdraw from the Russian market after being asked to do so by Ukrainian politician Mykhailo Fedorov following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings, a Chinese multinational conglomerate, Riot Games’ decision to remain in the Russian market has sparked interest and debate among gamers and industry observers alike, with many other companies like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks halting their business in Russia due to mounting pressure.
Background and Context
Why Did Other Companies Leave Russia?
The decision by many companies to leave Russia was largely driven by international pressure and sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Companies like L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, and Heineken have closed shops and ceased online sales in Russia, while others like Apple have closed their headquarters in the country but continue to provide access to their services. Zara-owner Inditex has also shuttered its stores in Russia and sold them to a UAE-based company.
FAQs
- Who owns Riot Games?: Riot Games is a subsidiary of Tencent Holdings, a Chinese multinational conglomerate that acquired a majority stake in the company in 2011 and completed the acquisition in December 2015, owning 100% of the company.
- Which companies have pulled out of Russia?: Companies like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, and Heineken have halted their business in Russia or closed their stores and ceased online sales.
- Is Riot Games from India?: No, Riot Games is an American video game developer founded in 2006 and owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent since 2011.
- Who is the CEO of Valorant?: The CEO of Riot Games, the developer of Valorant, is A. Dylan Jadeja, who was named as the new CEO of the company in a major change in leadership.
- Is Riot based in China?: While Riot Games is owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent, the company is based in Los Angeles and has a Shanghai office that works in tandem with its global headquarters to develop its games.
- Does Riot Games pay well?: Yes, Riot Games is known to pay its employees well, with average salaries ranging from $82,243 per year for Associate Analyst to $226,604 per year for Senior Director of Product Management.
- How popular is Valorant in India?: Valorant has a significant following in India, with the Indian community being one of the most active and passionate groups in APAC, according to Riot Games.
- Why did Zara leave Russia?: Zara-owner Inditex shuttered its 502 Russian stores after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine and sold them to UAE-based Daher Group.
- Has Apple left Russia?: Apple pulled out of Russia in March 2022, but Russians can still buy the new iPhone 14, and the company continues to provide access to its services, including Apple Music & TV+.
- Is Pepsi still in Russia?: While Pepsi has not officially announced its withdrawal from Russia, the country continues to lose brands that have historically been present there for long periods.
- Is PUBG owned by Tencent?: PUBG Mobile is published by Tencent Games worldwide, but the owner of PUBG Mobile is Krafton, a company that underwent restructuring and became an independent holding company, with Tencent Holdings holding a significant stake in Krafton.
- Who owns GTA?: The Rockstar Games label, which developed GTA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc..
- Is it hard to get a job at Riot Games?: Yes, getting a job at Riot Games is highly competitive, with the company seeking passionate and driven new hires who love technology and must go through a series of screenings to prove they are right for the job.
- What is the most successful game in Riot Games?: League of Legends is the most successful game developed by Riot Games, launched in 2009 and becoming one of the most-played games in the world and a leading force in the world of e-sports.
- Why is Tencent so big?: Tencent is one of China’s largest technology companies, offering a range of services, including e-commerce, cloud computing, entertainment, internet platforms, and business ecosystems, generating over half of its revenue from social media services, music subscriptions, and games.