Riot Games Social Media Use

Riot Games is a video game developer that created and runs League of Legends, who, with over 100 million players every month, is the most played video game in the world. Every year, Riot also holds many League of Legends tournaments worldwide, with competitive League of Legends being one of the biggest eSport games to date. Riot uses social media to inform its players of new updates coming to the game such as new champions, skins, and patch updates, as well as to keep in touch with its players thoughts on the game and what they want changed or improved. Riot also uses social media to bring attention to fan-made creations such as fanart, and even has a twitter called @RiotSupport in order to be able to talk in real time with problems players encounter when playing the game.

Graves splash art after he got his cigar back

Riot mainly uses Twitter to keep in touch with its player base, and has numerous different twitters for different uses. There is the main League of Legends Twitter @LeagueofLegends, the official Riot Twitter @riotgames, the eSport Twitter @lolesports, and the help Twitter @RiotSupport. There are also other twitters for different regions in order to appeal to its fanbase around the world, such as Europe's League of Legends Twitter @loleu. Each Twitter has its own uses, but League of Legend's main Twitter @LeagueofLegends is used to keep players informed of new things coming out in the game, as well as keep players updated on patch notes and changes being made to the game in each update. Each Twitter is very active, and replies to many Tweets sent to them. @RiotSupport responds to every Tweet sent to them, as it is there to assist players that are having problems with the game, such as technical issues. @RiotSupport even occasionally gifts players with a few extra Riot Points, which is a currency you can buy with real money in the game, if they draw Riot a picture and say that they are only a few RP away from being able to buy a certain thing in the game. Riot also has Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a few other social media accounts. Riot is very effective at keeping in touch with its player base, and is aware of all the ongoing jokes and memes about their game. For example, at one point Riot removed the cigar from Graves' splash art, which is the image you see of the champion in the loading screen of the game. The fanbase turned it into a meme, and said things like "Riot can make all these changes but still won't give Graves his cigar back." In response, Riot actually re-added the cigar to Graves splash art. Riot is very active on its social media sites, particularly Twitter, and responds quickly and Tweets regularly with new updates and announcements about the game. Riot is also great at opening discourse on its social media with music, fanart, even character creation contests, and uses engaging captions, pictures, and videos to keep its fanbase interested. For example, when new skins are created they announce them, then show us the splash art and follow it with a short gameplay video trailer to let us see how the skin looks in-game. Riot also retweets player creations such as fanart and cosplays, and posts things like interviews of famous eSport players, as well as trailers for new lines of skins and champions that are coming out with exciting animations and graphics. Their Twitter also keeps fans updated on eSport game results, and knows how to hype its players up for upcoming tournaments and new releases.

Fanart by @sonwooang on Twitter of the new skin line coming out that @LeagueofLegends retweeted

In my opinion, Riot is doing very well at keeping its playerbase engaged, and uses social media effectively and appropriately. They Tweet daily, and are aware of their fanbase's wants and are fairly good at delivering. Of course, it is impossible to make everybody happy, especially with such a complex game with so many components to it, but Riot does a great job. Riot knows how to deliver great customer service, and keeps its playerbase updated and aware of changes through its social media. I personally have Twitter notifications on for @LeagueofLegends, because that way every time something new is announced or the new patch notes are released, I am among the first to know. I have also tweeted @RiotSupport a few times, and each time they replied the same day and offered all the help they were able to give me. I think they are doing a great job, and their social media keeps me updated and aware of all the new changes coming to the game.