On January 9, Riot Games made the tough decision to shut down its offices due to the devastating wildfires sweeping through LA. Fast forward to today, and the company confirmed in a recent update that their offices remain closed as these challenges persist. “Our Los Angeles headquarters sits just a few miles from the heart of the Palisades Fire and has been shut since the onset of the wildfires,” the update mentions. “This situation has hit our teams hard—some of our colleagues have lost their homes and many more have had to evacuate. In trying times like these, our main concern is ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being. We’re committed to helping our team through this hardship by offering temporary housing, emergency financial aid, and advisory services.”
Riot Games isn’t just focusing on internal support though; they’re reaching into their gaming universe to drive wider aid efforts. “Kicking off on January 22, we’re rolling out in-game fundraisers across Valorant and League of Legends PC realms to bolster global fire and natural disaster relief initiatives,” reads the announcement. “Funds raised will feed into the Riot Games Social Impact Fund, which then channels money to aid organizations fighting natural disasters in Southern California and afar.”
In Valorant, from January 22 through the 30th, proceeds from the EX.O Collection bought by players will be directed to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund. Over in League of Legends PC, the drive spans from January 23 to February 5; the once-vaulted Firefighter Tristana has returned, and sales from it will also support the fund.
Riot Games didn’t stop there, highlighting ongoing support for the community in their news update: “Last week, we doubled down on donations made by our team members, tripling charitable contributions toward the California Fire Foundation, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, International Medical Corps, American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen. Additionally, we’ve sent direct donations to the California Fire Foundation and International Medical Corps to assist their relief endeavors.”
As they reflect on the ongoing crisis, Riot Games shared, “The journey to recovery doesn’t just end when the fires are out. Rebuilding communities is a lengthy process, and this crisis—which has unfolded so close to home—has driven us to deepen our commitment to supporting natural disaster relief and preventive measures on a global scale.”
