Riot Games launches Riot Play Club, UK included
12 September 2024
As developer of both League of Legends and VALORANT, Riot Games has grown into one of the most recognisable names in the world of esports in recent years. As a result, any news coming out of the Riot headquarters is read by millions of players and fans around the world. The most recent example of this was their announcement of the Riot Play Club. This was especially good news for the followers of esports in the UK, as it has been chosen as one of the three regions where the Riot events programme will be launched first, together with Ireland and parts of Scandinavia.
Riot Play Club: What is it?
Riot Play Club is one of the latest creations to come out of Riot Games. It consists of a new events programme for local fans with the goal of further improving the relationship between the developer and the fans of their titles. It does so by allowing partnered venues to organise (usually small-scale) events supported by the knowledge, network and experience of Riot Games. In the United Kingdom, these partner venues include Razer Store London, Pixel Bar (in Leeds and Manchester) and Sidequest Coventry. The only location to be named in Scandinavia, for now, is Eldorado, in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
“Riot Play Club is a local game night, where we have teamed up with selected venues across the country where you can turn and enjoy a night of League of Legends or VALORANT, including open games or Normal mode, Unrated, Swiftplay, quizzes, show off your top plays, swag*, as well as special events like watch parties for VCT EMEA, Game Changers, Masters and Champions”, writes Riot on the official website for VALORANT, “Each Riot Play Club will be a little different depending on the venue hosting it, but with activities linked to what’s happening in and around the game at that time, there will always be something different to check out at your local venue!”
More than gaming
What’s also interesting about Riot Play Club, is that the concept is about much more than gaming. As we mentioned earlier, the goal of the initiative is to foster an even better relationship between the company and the fans of its games, and that is underlined by the type of events that will be organised at the partner venues of the Riot Play Club. These include competitions amongst members and watch parties for big League of Legends and VALORANT events, but also quizzes, coaching opportunities and small-scale panel discussions, for example.
“As the programme grows, Riot will also be looking to interested members of the community to help coach newer players, explain more advanced topics, lead quizzes, or drop some knowledge bombs from the expansive world of Riot Games lore”, explains Riot Games, “Those who are already community leaders for any of Riot’s games, in any capacity, should keep their eyes peeled on socials for more information about how they can get involved.”