An Esports Production Palace: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Riot Games’ Seattle-Based Remote Broadcast Center

Riot Games, a pioneer in the esports industry, has recently unveiled its second Remote Broadcast Center (RBC) in the greater Seattle area. This state-of-the-art facility, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to revolutionize live global esports production.

The Vision Behind the RBC

The concept of the RBC was born under the codename “Project Stryker” in July 2022. This initiative aims to support the broadcast production of live esports competitions happening anywhere in the world. By centralizing production in these hubs, Riot Games can efficiently manage and distribute content to a global audience in multiple languages.

The Seattle Facility

Located just 16 miles south of Seattle, the new RBC spans an impressive 70,000 square feet. This facility is strategically designed to complement Riot Games’ first RBC in Dublin, Ireland, ensuring seamless global coverage of esports events.

Key Features of the Facility

• Advanced Infrastructure: The Seattle RBC is equipped with a Technical Operations Center (TOC), three remote casting insert stages, six production control rooms (PCRs), and six audio control rooms (ACRs). Additionally, it features multiple bullpens for observers, graphics, replay, and editing teams.
• Global Connectivity: The facility boasts impressive global connectivity with a bandwidth of 200 Gbps and over 40 kilometers of cabling. This setup allows live event feeds to be transmitted to the production facility in about 1/10th of a second.
• Cloud-Based Technology: Powered by AWS, the RBC leverages zero-client computing, enabling highly efficient and virtual remote production. This technology allows for the production of events with minimal on-site presence, significantly reducing logistical complexities.

The Partnership with Gravity Media

Riot Games has expanded its partnership with Gravity Media, a global provider of complex live creative production and media services. Gravity Media will provide a Managed Services solution at the Seattle RBC, recruiting a dedicated team of over 30 broadcast specialists in areas such as EVS, engineering, audio, and media asset management. This collaboration builds on the success of their initial partnership in Dublin, where Gravity Media has successfully delivered managed services since the beginning of 2023.

Operational Efficiency

The RBC model has significantly enhanced the efficiency of Riot Games’ esports production. Roles that were previously performed on-site, such as those of observers, directors, technical directors, graphics operators, producers, and audio operators, are now managed remotely from the RBCs. This approach allows for a smaller on-site footprint, reducing the need for extensive setup and teardown at each event location.

Real-World Application

The effectiveness of the RBC was recently demonstrated during the League of Legends World Championship Finals 2024. The event, held at the O2 Arena in London, was supported by the Dublin-based RBC, with key production elements managed remotely. This included the main show production, vertical feed automated production, and multiple language broadcasts. The ability to maintain a static production setup in Dublin while supporting events across different locations highlights the flexibility and efficiency of the RBC model.

Attracting Top Talent

The Seattle RBC offers a compelling opportunity to attract top talent in the esports production industry. With its cutting-edge facilities and innovative use of cloud-based technologies, the center is poised to become a hub for the future of esports production. Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director at Riot Games, emphasized the importance of this facility in building a first-class production team and delivering high-quality live esports events to a global audience.

Conclusion

Riot Games’ new Remote Broadcast Center in Seattle represents a significant leap forward in esports production. With its advanced infrastructure, cloud-based technologies, and efficient operational model, this facility is set to play a crucial role in the company’s continued success in delivering world-class esports events. As the esports landscape continues to evolve, Riot Games is well-positioned to lead the way with its innovative approach to live global production.