What's Happening?
Raymond Bartos, a former producer on the World of Warcraft team, has joined Riot Games to work on their upcoming and highly anticipated MMO. Bartos announced his new role through a LinkedIn post, expressing
his admiration for Riot's values and the positive experience he had during the interview process. He joins a team that includes several other former Blizzard employees, such as Orlando Salvatore and Natalia Leenhardt, who have also transitioned to Riot Games. The new MMO is set in the Runeterra universe, which is familiar to fans of Riot's other games. Although details about the MMO remain scarce, the hiring of experienced developers like Bartos suggests significant progress is being made.
Why It's Important?
The recruitment of experienced developers from Blizzard, a company known for its successful MMOs like World of Warcraft, indicates Riot Games' serious commitment to developing a competitive MMO. This move could potentially shake up the MMO market, which has been dominated by a few key players for years. Riot's entry into this space with a game set in the popular Runeterra universe could attract a large player base, leveraging the existing fan community of games like League of Legends. The success of this project could further establish Riot Games as a major player in the MMO genre, impacting the strategies of other game developers and possibly leading to more innovation and competition in the industry.
What's Next?
While there is no official timeline for the release of Riot's MMO, the continued hiring of industry veterans suggests that development is progressing. Fans and industry analysts will be watching closely for any announcements or teasers that provide more insight into the game's features and release schedule. The involvement of high-profile developers may also lead to increased media attention and speculation about the game's potential impact. As development continues, Riot Games may reveal more about the game's direction and how it plans to differentiate itself from existing MMOs.
