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John Needham shared thisShanghai was the perfect place to close out an incredible VCT season! Huge congrats to LOUD on an epic win and their second World Championship! Team Vitality put up a great fight, pushing the series to four games and giving fans an exciting finish to another memorable year for the VCT. I can't wait to see what next year brings as we continue bringing VALORANT esports to more communities around the world. One highlight of the week for me was spending time with students in New York University Shanghai. I toured their interactive media labs and talked with them about Riot Games' work across Publishing and Esports, China's role in connecting gaming and culture worldwide, and the many paths into the industry. Their curiosity, ambition, and passion for gaming were inspiring. I also took them to Fan Fest so they could see firsthand how we bring the world of VALORANT (and of course, Wingman!) to life for fans. A big thank you to the NYU Shanghai students, our incredible fans and partners, and all the Rioters who made Champions Shanghai such a memorable experience. What a way to close out the season!
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John Needham shared thisIf you know me, you know gaming is more than just a job—it’s a lifelong passion. Over the past five years or so, work has been intense, so I’ve shied away from sweaty, high-intensity PvP games. During that time, Teamfight Tactics has become one of my favorite games. It’s the first thing I do every morning before heading to the gym and starting my workday. I’m not great at the game, but I hit Platinum every set. For anyone who hasn’t played TFT, it’s a turn-based strategy game where you build a team of League of Legends champions that auto-battle against seven other teams. It’s a low-intensity competitive game that I can play while watching sports or streamers (mostly BurntPeanut these days). Today is a big day for TFT. The team is launching a new version of the game in Unreal, moving on from League’s Hextech engine, along with a new set: Set 18, Enchanted Wilds. Big shout-out to the TFT team—congrats on the successful port and the new set! If you haven’t played TFT in a while, Set 18 is a great time to jump back in. And if you’re already in the Wilds, let me know which comps you love. This is the comp I'm currently working: https://lnkd.in/g3ByVRH6Primal Spear - TFT Meta Comp Set 18 Guide - MobalyticsPrimal Spear - TFT Meta Comp Set 18 Guide - Mobalytics
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John Needham shared thisCheck out this interview I did last month while I was in London for Masters https://lnkd.in/gD-v-i2h"This is us speaking to the world" – Why London is keen to host esports events like the Valorant Masters"This is us speaking to the world" – Why London is keen to host esports events like the Valorant Masters
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John Needham shared thisWhat a week in Seoul and Daejeon. Congrats to Hanwha Life Esports on winning MSI 2026 in an absolute thriller over Bilibili Gaming. Down 2-1 in the series, they battled back with two huge wins to claim the title on home soil. Silver Scrapes! That Zeus Game 5 Dr. Mundo! This tournament had everything that makes League Esports great: upsets, pentakills, incredible plays, and an amazing crowd in Daejeon. I also loved spending time at Fan Fest. Getting to meet fans who traveled from all over the world is always a great reminder of why we do this. There’s nothing better than bringing our players and fans together to celebrate the game they love. Big thanks to the Rioters who made MSI 2026 happen. Now on to Worlds. We’re bringing it back to North America, and I can’t wait for fans to see what we have planned. See you in New York!
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John Needham shared thisI had the chance to be a guest on the Excellent Leadership Podcast and sit down with Chad Biagini and Mark Mayleben. We talked about my journey to Riot, my leadership philosophy, and how everything we do at Riot is to make it better to be a player. Thanks so much for having me! Listen here: https://lnkd.in/g3iNxisX
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John Needham shared thisI had a blast this week at VALORANT Masters London. Congrats LEVIATÁN! A 5 game stunner. The competition was incredible, the energy from the fans was amazing, and the entire event felt like a real celebration of the VALORANT community. From the matches themselves to everything happening around them, London was a fantastic stage for Masters. From talking to students at Capital City College, meeting Deputy Mayor Justine Simons during her visit to the Copper Box, having a pint at the Phoenix Arms, and spending time with fans at the event, I was reminded that moments like this are about more than competition. They create connection, community, and memories that stay with fans long after the final match. Grateful to all the Rioters who helped make it such a memorable week. I’m already counting down the days until we’re in Shanghai for Champs!
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John Needham shared thisThanks, Alexander Lee, for a great conversation at the GamesBeat Summit this week. Had a really great conversation about Riot’s approach to Publishing & Esports — or as we call it internally, “PubSports” (trademark pending). I’m biased, but I think this is one of the coolest teams in gaming and one of the most unique things Riot does for players. At Riot, we think about the player experience way beyond just the game itself. It’s esports, music, live events, CPX, community, platform, web coming together to deliver big cultural moments for players. A lot of companies think about these moments as marketing. For us, they’re investments back into players. Our goal is simple: we want to create experiences that make players proud to be part of these communities. If we do it right, players become fans, and fandom becomes something much deeper than just playing a game. It becomes part of someone’s identity and something they share with their friends and family. Nothing makes me happier than hearing someone identify themselves as a fan of League, VALORANT, or TFT because I know how much that means as a fan myself. That’s what makes this industry so special, and it’s why we continue to invest so heavily in creating meaningful experiences for players around the world. It’s hard work, but it’s super fun too.
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John Needham shared thisI am speaking at GamesBeat Summit 2026. Please check out my talk if you're attending the event! #GamesBeat - via #Whova event app
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John Needham shared thisCongrats VALORANT team on another incredible Masters. Looking forward to being on the ground with you all in London!John Needham shared thisHuge thanks to the pros, talent, and crew for an unbelievable show. Most importantly, a deep and heartfelt thank you to the Chilean community for making this one of the best Masters in history. Your love was felt and heard every minute. Forever grateful. Viva Chile! 🇨🇱❤️
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1w
Mark Cox thanks Mark. Hope you're great!
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1w
Sara Anicic Very proud of the opening ceremony. I think it's the best one we've done for Champions.l
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John Needham reacted on thisJohn Needham reacted on thisVALORANT Champions Shanghai is about to be absolute cinema. Starting with the opening ceremony lineup: 💥 Grabbitz 💥 Oli Sykes 💥 Courtney LaPlante 💥 Keshi 💥 Nana Ouyang Watch all the action on VALORANTESPORTS.com
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John Needham reacted on thisJohn Needham reacted on thisThe Champions opening ceremony is a labor of love. Our way of celebrating the sport, the game, the community, the music, and the culture that defines VALORANT. I’m so incredibly proud of this year’s show. A huge thank you and congratulations to our creative, production, and music teams at Riot; our incredible partners at DONE+DUSTED, who we’re so lucky to work with; and, of course, the amazing Grabbitz, Keshi, Oli Sykes, Courtney LaPlante, and Nana Ouyang. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gtqSDgnq
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