“You have to be willing to find where that edge is. Sometimes you’re over it a little bit and then you can pull it back. But if you never make the attempt or find out where that edge is and how far you can push something, you never end up with a story worth telling.“
That line from Stefan Richardson, Director of Global Broadcast at Riot Games, sums up the entire ethos behind Riot’s Emmy-winning productions. On the latest episode of Storyteller, hosted by Tagboard CEO Nathan Peterson, Richardson pulls back the curtain on how Riot transforms esports events into unforgettable cinematic experiences, and why embracing chaos is often the key to greatness.
The Edge of Innovation
“I’m like the rogue agent inside Riot Games,” Richardson jokes. “But that’s where the best stuff comes from.”
He lives by a mantra: “No risk, no story.” It’s a mindset that has led Riot to produce globally celebrated (Emmy-winning) content, but not without a few production nightmares along the way.
To prove the point, Richardson shares a gem from his team: the “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” bingo card. A running tally of real production mishaps, it includes classics like “Sharks eat transatlantic fiber cable,” “Gaming desks stuck in the Suez Canal,” and “Bomb-sniffing dog needs a nap.” As Stefan says, “You have to be able to jump past panic. That’s where the best people shine.”
Make Your Audience Care
Despite the chaos behind the curtain, Riot’s goal is clear: make audiences care.
“Our main job is making people care, not just fans of League or esports, but people who’ve never heard of Riot Games,” Richardson explains. “Can we make them care about Faker? Who is this kid? Why is he important?”
At Worlds 2022 in San Francisco, that emotional investment came to life. A story-driven video intro played after a high-octane musical number opened the show, and a woman in the crowd hushed her partner who was talking mid-video, saying:
“Would you please be quiet? I’m trying to listen to the story.”
“That’s when you know you’ve done something special,” Richardson says. “You’ve made people care.”
It’s Not About the Race, It’s About the Driver
Richardson draws inspiration from Drive to Survive, Full Swing, and other sports docuseries that humanize athletes. “It’s not about the race,” he says. “It’s about the people in the car. If you care about the humans, then you care who wins.”
That’s the through line of Riot’s philosophy. Pre-game vignettes. Cinematic trailers. Emotional arcs. Riot tells stories with intentionality, context, and connection, what Richardson calls his three core tenets. “Doing connection well is the hardest part,” he says, “but when you get it right, people don’t even realize they’re invested.”
Built on Trust, Run in Your Lane
Behind Riot’s massive global broadcasts is a powerful production team fueled by trust.
“There’s so much going on, you just have to have faith your team can handle their lanes,” Richardson says. “As an executive producer or director, you set them up and let the family run.”
The reward? Riot Games picked up yet another Sports Emmy win this year, building on years of excellence that have elevated esports into mainstream moments, complete with Linkin Park opening ceremonies and stadiums packed with fans around the world.
Meet Audiences Where They Are
Riot isn’t just telling better stories, they’re finding new ways to tell them. From multi-location remote broadcasts powered by AWS, to mobile-first formats and vertical video, it’s about meeting audiences where they are.
“You’re not just competing against other games,” Richardson notes. “You’re competing for attention with every sport, every show, every platform. If you’re not efficient, you’re not relevant.”
It’s why Riot leans into cloud workflows, global distribution, and agile tools like Tagboard for real-time graphics and interactive elements.
The Big Takeaway?
Great stories don’t play it safe.
They take risks. They embrace chaos. They tug at your heart.
And when it works? You get audiences who care deeply, and maybe even a few Emmys along the way.