Riot Games cofounder Marc Merrill emphasized that despite Arcane’s $250 million production cost, it was a success due to its positive reception from fans. He stated, "We are not focused on the short term extraction of profits-we are focused on delivering exceptional value to our audience over the long term, again and again and again," highlighting the importance of long-term engagement over immediate profit.
Merrill clarified that Arcane's strategy was to lead players back to League of Legends, where they would likely purchase themed in-game items. However, he acknowledged that this strategy did not yield the expected financial returns, stirring concerns with Tencent about Riot's deviation from its primary focus on gaming.
Following substantial investment in transmedia projects like Arcane, Riot has announced layoffs in 2024 and a renewed focus on high-impact projects. CEO Dylan Jadeja mentioned, "We are refocusing on fewer, high-impact projects to move us toward a more sustainable future," signifying a shift back to core gaming competencies.
Merrill faced skepticism regarding Arcane's success and the company's decisions. He noted, "People who look at the world through a short term, transactional, cynical lens, really struggle to understand Riot," suggesting that the company's priorities differ from conventional business practices.
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