Game publisher Riot Games has revamped and renamed its Berlin-based LEC Studio to the Riot Games Arena.
Riot Games has transformed its previous studio into a new hub fully dedicated to all current and future Riot Games esports products in the EMEA region ahead of the 2024 season.
The main upgrades will allow the venue to become more flexible, offering better broadcast and production capabilities with the utilisation of Riot Games’ Dublin-based Remote Broadcast Center as well as an adaptable stage and desk area. The venue will have an amphitheatre-style fan seating with a new layout that allows them to get closer to the players.
According to a report by Dot Esports, the players’ desks can be configured to either face each other or face the crowd, allowing Riot to cater to different setups depending on the game title.
There will be also dedicated broadcast and co-streaming booths as well as an enhanced arena and fan experience, offering a wider variety of broadcast streams all from the venue.
In recent years, co-streaming has played a major role in raising interest and viewership of esports competitions. This is proven by the increasing number of co-streamers for this year’s Worlds 2023. According to streaming data site Esports Charts, there were roughly 150% more community casters covering Worlds 2023 than the previous year, and co-streams made up over 20% of the global viewership during the 2023 Worlds Finals.
Alberto Guerrero, Head of Esports, EMEA at Riot Games, commented: “We’re all in on esports at Riot Games and in EMEA, so this upgraded, world-leading esports facility will become the beating heart of our esports operations in the region, servicing all our competitions.”
“Creating a venue of this scale is a testament to our long-term dedication to continue developing the future of esports in EMEA for our fans, teams, and their players, and the facility will set us up for further success in the years to come.
Riot Games will be hosting all League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA shows live with an audience, however, it doesn’t end there. With the new layout, it will also have the ability to concurrently host other Riot Games EMEA Esports events remotely, including VALORANT Challengers Ascension, VALORANT EMEA Game Changers, EMEA Masters, and Teamfight Tactics (TFT) events.
With 2023 coming to an end, Riot Games will be opening the new esports arena to fans with the start of the LEC Winter Split in January. Further details about the renewed studio are expected to be revealed at the start of 2024.
