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2026 Who Brands. All information is provided for educational purposes. Brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Home
  2. Brands
  3. Media & Entertainment
  4. Riot Games
Riot Games logo
Media & Entertainment

Who Owns Riot Games?

Riot Games is wholly owned by Tencent Holdings Limited. Tencent paid approximately $400 million for a majority stake in 2011 and acquired the remaining equity in 2015. Riot continues to operate from Los Angeles with its own management and publishing identity, but Tencent has ultimate corporate control. Tencent is publicly traded in Hong Kong under ticker 0700.

Parent Company

Tencent Holdings Limited

Acquired

2015

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Los Angeles, California, USA

Riot Games Timeline

1998
Tencent Holdings Limited

Parent company established in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Company Founded
2006

Riot Games

Founded by Brandon Beck, Marc Merrill

Founded
2015
Acquired by Tencent Holdings Limited

Tencent Holdings Limited acquired Riot Games

Acquired
premiumGlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Riot Games?

  • Parent Company: Tencent Holdings Limited
  • Ownership Type: Wholly owned
  • Acquisition Year: 2015
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: HKEX: 0700
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
Riot GamesTencent Holdings LimitedWholly owned

History of Riot Games

  • Founded: 2006
  • Founders: Brandon Beck, Marc Merrill
  • Acquired by Tencent Holdings Limited: 2015

Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill founded Riot in 2006. League of Legends launched in 2009 and became the foundation for the company's free-to-play game and esports model. Riot later added Teamfight Tactics, Valorant, Legends of Runeterra, and entertainment projects such as Arcane.

Tencent's ownership supplied capital and access to a large games network. Riot sold Hytale and the revived Hypixel Studios operation back to its founders in November 2025, so Hypixel should no longer be listed as a Riot-owned company.

About Tencent Holdings Limited

Chinese technology and entertainment company owning Riot Games and controlling Miniclip among a broad portfolio of digital businesses.

  • Founded: 1998
  • Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: HKEX: 0700

Visit Tencent Holdings Limited website

View full company profile for Tencent Holdings Limited

Where Is Riot Games Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA

Riot Games Categories & Tags

Video GamesEsportsLeague Of LegendsTencent

Riot Games Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +Long-term funding
  • +Global publishing infrastructure
  • +Access to Tencent's game expertise
  • +Support for large esports operations

Considerations

  • -Tencent has ultimate control
  • -International ownership draws political scrutiny
  • -Live-service monetization faces regulation
  • -Riot financials are not separately public

Frequently Asked Questions About Riot Games

Sources & Further Reading

  • Riot Games official site
  • Tencent investor relations
  • Hytale independence announcement

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AmazonRiot Games on Amazon

Competitors to Riot Games

No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Riot Gamesoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.

Independent Alternatives to Riot Games

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Tencent Holdings Limited, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

4ADMedia Entertainment

4AD

Owned by Beggars Group

Influential British independent record label founded in 1979, known for a distinctive visual aesthetic and a roster spanning Cocteau Twins, Pixies, The National, and Grimes.

record-labelindependent-musicbritish-label
Privately Owned

4AD is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Arista RecordsMedia Entertainment

Arista Records

Owned by Sony Music Entertainment

American record label founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, specializing in pop and R&B music.

record-labelmusicpop
Privately Owned

Arista Records is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Glassnote RecordsMedia Entertainment

Glassnote Records

Owned by Glassnote Entertainment Group, LLC

American independent record label founded in 2007 by Daniel Glass, focusing on alternative and indie rock artists.

record-labelmusicindependent
Privately Owned

Glassnote Records is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

HytaleMedia Entertainment

Hytale

Owned by Hypixel Studios

Sandbox adventure game developed by Hypixel Studios, independently funded after reacquisition from Riot Games in November 2025.

video-gamesandboxgaming
Privately Owned

Hytale is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Jive RecordsMedia Entertainment

Jive Records

Owned by Sony Music Entertainment

American record label founded in 1981, now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, specializing in hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.

record-labelmusichip-hop
Privately Owned

Jive Records is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Masterworks RecordsMedia Entertainment

Masterworks Records

Owned by Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Masterworks is a premier classical and crossover music label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, tracing its roots to Columbia Masterworks Records founded in 1924. Now led by President Mark Cavell, the label encompasses Sony Classical and has expanded into soundtracks, world music, and contemporary classical. Recent signings include Grammy-winning artist Emily Bear and the launch of Igor Levit's No Silence imprint in 2026.

record-labelmusicclassical
Privately Owned

Masterworks Records is privately owned, unlike Riot Games which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Tencent Holdings Limited Stock Information

Jobs at Tencent Holdings Limited

Latest News About Riot Games

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Last reviewed: August 15, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team