In a surprising turn of events, Principal Game Designer Justin Hanson has announced his departure from Riot Games after more than six years with the company. This news comes just a week after Lead Game Designer Greg Street, also known as Ghostcrawler, left the highly anticipated MMO project. With two key figures leaving in such a short span of time, questions and concerns are mounting about what to expect from the Riot MMO.
In a candid tweet, Hanson shared his mixed emotions regarding his decision to leave the company:
"Today is my last day at Riot.
Emotions are a hell of a thing. Very sad to be leaving, on the one hand, yet excited for a new adventure on the other.
The MMO team is absolutely world-class. It's been such an honor to be able to be a part of it."
-Justin Hanson, Xenogenic Twitter
Despite the departures of both Hanson and Street, there is still little concrete information available about the development status of Riot's MMO. The project was first announced in 2020 during Riot's 10-year anniversary celebration, and since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting updates on the game's progress. However, details have been sparse, leaving many to wonder about the game's direction and overall vision.
In the wake of his announcement, Hanson addressed concerns that his departure might be indicative of larger issues within the company. He clarified that his decision to leave was a personal choice and not part of a larger trend of layoffs or toxicity within the MMO division of Riot Games. While this statement provides some reassurance, it does little to assuage the growing curiosity and unease surrounding the project.
Today is my last day at Riot. Emotions are a hell of a thing. Very sad to be leaving, on the one hand, yet excited for a new adventure on the other. The MMO team is absolutely world-class. It's been such an honor to be able to be a part of it.
— Xenogenic (@Xenogenic) April 14, 2023
Riot Games is known for its blockbuster title, League of Legends, which has maintained a massive and dedicated player base since its release in 2009. As a result, expectations for their foray into the MMO genre are sky-high, and any perceived turbulence within the development team is bound to attract attention.
Despite the recent exits of Hanson and Street, Riot Games has yet to release an official statement addressing their departures or providing any additional information about the future of the MMO project. With little to no information to go on, fans and industry professionals alike are left to speculate about the implications of these resignations and what they might mean for the direction and development of the game.
In an industry where delays, cancellations, and behind-the-scenes drama are not uncommon, the departure of two lead designers in such a short period of time is undoubtedly concerning. As Riot Games remains tight-lipped about the state of their MMO, fans and observers are left with more questions than answers. It remains to be seen whether these personnel changes will impact the game's development, but one thing is for certain: the anticipation and scrutiny surrounding the project are only growing more intense. We do however wish Justin the very best on his next endeavors and can't wait to see where he lands in his development journey.
