Special Award 2017: Riot Games

Riot Games, the studio behind BAFTA-winner League of Legends, has been honoured with a BAFTA Special Award.

Co-CEOs Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill founded Riot Games in Santa Monica, California in 2006. Three years later, the studio launched its debut title League of Legends, which is now one of the most-played PC games in the world.

Riot Games, which is now based in Los Angeles, is an influential player in the global games industry. The studio helped to put the multiplayer online battle arena genre on the map, whereby players work in teams rather than alone.

Beck and Merrill, who met as roommates at the University of Southern California, are also credited for their use of ecommerce within League of Legends. Since its release in 2009, the game has been free to play and makes money by charging players for in-game purchases.

Nick Button-Brown, BAFTA Games Committee Chair, said: “At BAFTA we aim to champion innovation and creativity. We are therefore delighted to recognise Riot Games with this BAFTA Special Award.”

In a joint statement, Beck and Merrill said: “Thank you to BAFTA. This is so meaningful to us.

“We graciously accept this on behalf of our full team and on behalf of the Rioters at home.  And of course, a special thanks to all of our players.”

A BAFTA Special Award is one of the academy’s highest honours recognising an outstanding contribution to film, games or TV. You can see more recipients in our Awards database.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV, explore our BAFTA Award Stories section.