Riot Games, developer of League of Legends and Valorant, has confirmed another round of layoffs affecting approximately 12 employees in its publishing division. This marks the second wave of job cuts at the studio, occurring just weeks after the company reduced the 2XKO development team following the fighting game's middling console launch.

Unlike the previous layoffs that targeted a single struggling team, this round has affected three teams within Riot's publishing division. The layoffs come amid broader industry downsizing, with Riot's parent company Tencent having recently shut down TiMi Montreal, a AAA open-world game studio that never released any projects.

The trend extends beyond Riot, as rival Chinese gaming giant NetEase also implemented layoffs at one of its studios that had yet to announce or release any games. These cuts suggest a strategic shift among major gaming companies to refocus resources on established projects rather than experimental ventures with uncertain market potential.

Industry observers note that while Riot continues to support its flagship titles like League of Legends and Valorant, the company appears to be trimming more experimental projects. The layoffs reflect a broader trend of cost-cutting in the gaming sector as companies face economic pressures and reassess their development portfolios.