Asmongold: Twitch Star Gives Candid Take on Riot Games Layoffs and Forge Project Shutdown
3 min readIn a recent Twitch livestream, popular content creator Asmongold shared his insights on Riot Games’ decision to lay off 530 employees and shut down its Forge project. As the news circulated, the gaming community expressed varying opinions, prompting Asmongold to weigh in on the matter.
Asmongold Critiques Riot’s Decision:
Asmongold didn’t mince words as he critiqued Riot Games’ handling of the Forge project and the subsequent layoffs. He specifically targeted the marketing and financial decisions surrounding the games produced under Riot Forge. According to him, those responsible for pricing and marketing should face consequences rather than the developers.
Riot Forge’s Downfall: A Pricing Issue
Asmongold delved into the financial aspects of Riot Forge games, citing their pricing strategy as a major factor in their lack of success. He argued that charging a premium for games in a market accustomed to free-to-play titles was a flawed approach. The streamer emphasized that the failure lay in pricing games based on their IP rather than their inherent value.
Minutes ago, we shared an important update with Rioters about the future of Riot Games. Here’s what these changes mean for our games and what players can expect from us going forward: https://t.co/SPjvtANGdK pic.twitter.com/WGSr6fkvjp
— Riot Games (@riotgames) January 22, 2024
Asmongold’s Analysis on Mageseeker and Similar Titles:
Using Mageseeker as an example, Asmongold showcased his understanding of the gaming market. He highlighted that pricing the game at $40, significantly higher than its perceived value, contributed to its underperformance. By referencing Steam charts and providing gameplay insights, he underscored the importance of aligning game pricing with consumer expectations.
Laying down all these amazing talented people… Shutting down #Riotforge. I'm absolutely heartbroken for everyone involved. https://t.co/C6qbTbwTN9
— Skizoh (@Skiz0h) January 23, 2024
Community Reactions and Agreement:
Fans resonated with Asmongold’s analysis, expressing their agreement in the comments section. Many viewers shared their perspectives on the pricing issue, arguing that the marketing and visibility of Riot Forge games were also significant factors in their lack of success. The consensus among fans aligned with Asmongold’s critique of the decision-making process at Riot Games.
I will never forget the amazing work #riotforge put into their games and how much fun I had playing them pic.twitter.com/0rfZ3pUo0R
— luz ♥️ KINDRED4WILDRIFT (@luzKindred4WR) January 23, 2024
My heart breaks for @RiotForge 😭 THANK YOU FOR CONVERGENCE, I don’t care what anyone says, as an Ekko fan I enjoyed the game a lot and appreciate all the rioters who worked on it and all the other forge games 🥹❤️
— astrodart (@astrodid) January 22, 2024
Riot Forge was one of the best things made by Riot – it was full of creativity, passion, and gave amazing indie developers a chance. And now you're shutting it down because you don't give a shit about creativity and want to soullessly focus on making more money. Fuck you. 🙂
— zee (@ziggspl0sion) January 23, 2024Advertisement
I am really gonna miss the games and stories that came out of @RiotForge
— Matty Jax (@Mattwilljackson) January 24, 2024
Nothing but BANGERS. pic.twitter.com/holChDAl3D
love riot forge downnn but some of the games and stories they went with were dumb asf, who wants to play an 8bit demacia side scroller pic.twitter.com/rEuRSBvc0p
— max (@camawhore) January 23, 2024
Asmongold’s candid evaluation of Riot Games’ recent decisions shed light on the challenges faced by the company, particularly regarding the Forge project. The streamer’s focus on pricing and marketing decisions sparked a conversation within the gaming community about the intricacies of introducing new titles and the impact of financial strategies on their success. As the industry continues to evolve, such critiques contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the best practices for game development and marketing.