Riot games to enhance esports broadcasts with Amazon Web Services

Last week, Riot Games has announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) aimed at transforming how Riot’s esports content on the cloud is produced and distributed. Furthermore, the collaboration also seeks to “reimagine how fans can experience” Riot’s esports events. 

According to Amazon’s press release, this marks the first time the AWS data analytics will be integrated for esports broadcasts. The partnership will focus on League of Legends, Valorant and League of Legends: Wild Rift esports events.

John Needham, President of Esports at Riot Games, commented on the announcement: 

“Riot Games has a long-term vision to bring joy to billions of fans around the world through our esports, and we’re extremely excited to work with AWS to level up the Riot Esports experience. The wide-ranging solutions and expertise of AWS will enhance Riot Games’ esports broadcasts and engage esports fans worldwide. From reimagining how fans view our events and content, to interacting with other players, AWS unlocks endless opportunities for Riot to shape the future of sport.”

New game insights during broadcasts 

As part of the deal, Riot will work with AWC to enhance its global esports events broadcasts in the future competitive seasons of its esports titles. Similarly to the major global sports leagues, ASW’s portfolio of cloud services will be used to provide Riot fans with in-depth game statistics, insights and new experiences. This will include: 

AWS-powered esports stats 

Before, during, and after Riot’s esports events, the broadcasts will display various in-depth game statistics aimed to educate and inform viewers on key points of the match. Moreover, fans will be able to decide by voting which stats will be developed first.

AWS Global Power Rankings

This feature will be used to review matches and create real-time rankings of the top teams that will be displayed during gameplay.

AWS-powered Pick’em 

Built on AWS’s machine learning technology, the Pick’em feature will introduce new ways for fans to select winners and compete for prizes in bracket challenges. 

While the AWS esports stats will debut this fall during the upcoming VALORANT Champions in September 2022 and the League of Legends World Championship, the other two features will be first revealed during a hackathon event hosted by Riot and AWS, too scheduled for fall 2022. 

What does this mean for Riot esports content? 

We will have to wait to see the changes that Riot’s partnership with Amazon will bring into its esports broadcasts, however, it’s likely that the new features will have a positive impact on the quality of Riot’s broadcasts and possibly also on the viewership of its events. If done right, the new statistics and visual insights have the potential to make esports broadcasts more fun for die-hard fans, as well as more digestible to casual viewers — something we know has been an issue when it comes to esports broadcasts.

Header: Riot Games/ AWS