Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - How Riot Games is reinventing remote esports broadcasts (CMP311)

Summary

• Ashwin Raman, a solutions architect at AWS, introduces the session on Riot Games' journey from remote broadcast to centralized production.
• Riot Games aspires to be the most player-focused games company, a mission similar to AWS's customer obsession principle.
• Riot Games and AWS have partnered to innovate in esports broadcasting for the next decade.
• Riot's esports mission is to bring joy to billions of fans, regardless of location, viewing method, or language.
• Riot has been innovating in broadcasting technologies, including augmented and mixed reality.
• Traditional broadcasting involves trucks filled with equipment, but Riot's global events necessitated a shift to remote production.
• Riot's remote production aggregates raw sources (cameras, microphones, game spectators) and outputs multiple versions of content in over 20 languages.
• The COVID-19 pandemic forced Riot to move key encoding and production workflows into the cloud and allow remote access for broadcast staff.
• Riot Direct, Riot's internal ISP, was created to optimize network connectivity for gameplay and broadcasting, ensuring low latency and high-quality transmission.
• Riot Direct's global network allows Riot to produce esports events worldwide, even in regions where Riot does not have a physical presence.
• Project Striker is Riot's initiative to build a network of three remote broadcast centers around the world, starting with Dublin, Ireland.
• The Dublin center can manage and broadcast esports content, with the ability to produce shows in multiple languages simultaneously.
• Riot's production model leverages Riot Direct and AWS to distribute content globally and create a scalable infrastructure for future esports events.

Insights

• Riot Games' approach to remote broadcasting is driven by the need to maintain high-quality production standards while hosting events globally.
• The partnership with AWS allows Riot to leverage cloud technologies to overcome the limitations of traditional broadcasting equipment and methods.
• Riot Direct's global network is a critical component in Riot's ability to deliver low-latency, high-quality broadcasts to a global audience.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Riot's adoption of cloud-based production workflows, demonstrating the flexibility and resilience of cloud infrastructure.
• Project Striker represents a significant investment in the future of esports broadcasting, with a focus on scalability, global distribution, and the ability to produce content in multiple languages.
• Riot's use of AWS services, such as EC2, S3, MediaLive, and WorkSpaces, showcases the potential for cloud services to transform live event broadcasting.
• The success of Riot's remote production model could influence the broader broadcasting industry, highlighting the benefits of cloud-based solutions and global network infrastructure.