Pernithia Galnith 
Kick has come to represent one of the most ambitious live-streaming platforms for gaming enthusiasts since its launch in December 2022. Not only has this website quickly risen through the ranks, but recent estimates place the number of active users at over 100 million.
So, it makes perfect sense that the team at Kick is always interested in securing lucrative partnership deals with other major players. A recent announcement has served to reinforce this observation, and a great deal of interest has already been generated. On 26 June 2026, the team at Kick confirmed that it has entered into a partnership with RIOT Games.
What does this deal signify for the live-streaming community? Are there any perks that active Kick members can enjoy? How might this synergy shake up the online gaming community as a whole? These are some of the topics that will be covered throughout the remainder of this press release.
A Closer Look at RIOT Games
RIOT Games was launched in 2006; making it one of the oldest, and most respected, game developers in the Unites States. This brand is also known for its extremely popular releases over the years. Some flagship products that can be attributed to RIOT include League of Legends, MOBA, Valorant, and Teamfight Tactics (an offshoot of League of Legends also known as TFT).
RIOT Games has also been the brainchild behind countless professional eSports events. League of Legends wise, we have the European League LEC, the LCK, and the North American LCS are all prime examples drawing millions of people watching every single year. Furthermore, RIOT is responsible for the incredibly popular League of Legends World Championship. These are some of the reasons why Kick was eager to leverage the exposure associated with RIOT Games, and why both parties are expected to benefit as a direct result.
To put the sheer size of RIOT Games into perspective, its current market cap is said to exceed $21 billion. Riot is also reported to generate an annual revenue of more than $1.5 billion. Experts believe that the primary source of this income is derived from the online community; specifically thanks to the League of Legends, and Valorant, franchises.
Interestingly enough, RIOT Games has expanded their portfolio to include a handful of other genres. This company is responsible for the animated series Arcane (which won an Emmy Award), and they have produced several musical tracks for virtual bands; K/DA being one of the most prominent. RIOT nonetheless exerts a massive footprint within the iGaming sector, so it is clear to see why the professionals at Kick were interested.
What Does Kick Bring to the Table?
KICK is a live-streaming service based out of Australia. While originally envisioned as an alternative to Twitch, Kick has now expanded into multiple additional genres. To put this meteoric growth into perspective, research conducted in the third quarter of 2025 found that Kick was the fourth most-watched live streaming platform following YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch (1).
Kick is also known for the variety of on-site streaming feeds that can be accessed with the click of a button. In terms of gaming, of the most popular include:
- League of Legends
- DOTA 2
- Valorant
- Counter-Strik 2
- EA Sports FC 26
- Call of Duty
Having said this, Kick is also home to a kaleidoscope of other game categories that players regular follow. Fortnite, Forza Horizon 6, Minecraft, PUBG Mobile, Rust, and Apex Legends continue to attract an international audience. Note that non-gaming-related feeds such as art, music, and IRL streams are likewise offered.
Yet another reason why Kick enjoys such a loyal global audience involves its ultimate goal. Boasting the mission statement of “where human creativity breaks free”, users can leverage this platform to promote a host of interests, and accrue a loyal fan base over time. Still, online gaming is one of the most common categories that Kick offers, and this is the reason why their partnership with RIOT Games is so significant.
A Match Made in Digital Heaven?
This agreement is set to benefit both parties. The main strategy here involves the ability for Kick to tap into a larger market base. This includes regions of the world such as Turkey, Europe, and Latin America. Its existing user base will now be able to access live broadcasts from areas that might have only supported limited streaming feeds in the past. This is set to open up a literal world of possibilities, and it has already generated a significant amount of interest across the iGaming community.
This partnership also revolves around three core franchises:
- Valorant Esports
- TFT
For example, those who are interested in watching League of Legends competitions in real-time will now be provided with unfettered access to live-streaming events from within a centralised Kick interface.
One pertinent example of how this synergy is set to impact the online gaming ecosystem can be seen in MSI (Mid-Seasonal Invitation) 2026. MSI 2026 is a multiplayer online battle arena competition hosted by RIOT Games. The MSI offers a total prize pool of $2 million, and this competition has been taking place since 2015. This year’s event began on 28 June, and it is set to conclude on 12 July.
Historical figures can also be used to cement the popularity of major iGaming events. For example, the 2024 League of Legends World Championship was watched by more than 50 million viewers from around the world (enabling this competition to represent the most-watched e-sports event to date).
Considering the size of Kick and RIOT, some would argue that this partnership was inevitable to a certain degree. Although online gaming proponents will cite exposure and revenue generation as two key driving variables, these are only a portion of a much larger picture. How is this deal set to impact both parties, and what does it signify for loyal fans?
The Next Step for Kick.com
RIOT Games are some of the most popular within the entire iGaming ecosystem. This partnership helps to place Kick at the forefront of the contemporary online gaming community. It promises an appreciable return on investment, and it opens of the possibility for Kick.com users to access a kaleidoscope of international tournaments that would have been challenging to watch in the past. Furthermore, it adds another “string to the bow” regarding how Kick.com seeks to establish itself as a leader in e-sports, as well as live gaming entertainment.
Reciprocal Benefits for RIOT Games
Kick.com is not the only entity set to reap the advantages of what can only be called a rather groundbreaking mutual agreement. RIOT will be able to capitalise on the momentum already associated with Kick; especially when referring to how respected this brand has become in terms of live streaming services. To put this into context, Director of Strategy at RIOT Games Doug Watson was quoted as saying:
“E-sports fandom is global and we want to support the creators that fuel this fandom around our game titles to players around the world, no matter where they are. Through our partnership with KICK, we’re expanding the ways fans can engage with Riot’s e-sports events and their favourite creators on the platform of their choice. We’re excited to work with KICK to bring our games and e-sports experiences to even more communities around the globe.”
The fact that RIOT games are already cemented within the Kick ecosystem also signifies that existing RIOT members are likely to leverage the possibilities associated with each service. Furthermore, this partnership can be viewed as representing a synergistic relationship. In other words, each brand should benefit from the other’s presence. Such a symbiotic system is relatively rare, but it is also great news for players. So, how might each company move forward?
What Can Both Firms Expect?
It is likely that this partnership will come to represent a boon for players on both sides of the proverbial fence. Kick.com members will be provided with more access to a plethora of popular iGaming events than ever before. In the same respect, RIOT should increase their fan base, and expand their target demographic thanks to the international reach of Kick.com.
This sentiment was echoed in the statement by Doug Watson mentioned earlier. He clearly hinted that the team at RIOT was interested in augmenting the “fandom” that already surrounds their flagship games. Furthermore, Kick.com provides additional ways in which RIOT followers can engage with the latest iterations; especially when it comes to live-streaming competitions.
To put these observations another way, both parties will seek to leverage the possibilities associated with this partnership in terms of brand authority, online reputation, marketing, and sales. This is nothing more than pragmatism, and the results should be apparent in the coming years. However, it is just as crucial to mention the advantages that fans are now able to enjoy.
A Fantastic Opportunity for the iGaming Community, and Online Entertainment in General
The developers at RIOT Games were certainly proud to make this announcement in June, and they also made it a point to highlight how live streamers stand to benefit. They rightfully pointed out the fact that Kick.com streamers now have an additional way to leverage their ongoing efforts into a new platform. This can help to augment their fan base, to obtain more subscriptions, and to enjoy a greater degree of digital “clout”. RIOT specifically highlighted their creator and partner programmes. These were announced in May, and it is not unreasonable to assume that their launch was intended to coincide with the Kick.com partnership.
In the same respect, RIOT will inevitably reach more followers when it comes to their flagship games. What is unique about this move is that Kick.com has essentially already laid the groundwork thanks to a well-established gaming community (especially for those who enjoy watching Valorant, League of Legends, and TFT competitions). As the proverbial die has been cast thanks to Kick infrastructure, RIOT should be able to further strengthen its footprint across the iGaming ecosystem thanks to this “piggyback” move with Kick.
Finally, fans of existing RIOT Games who are already familiar with Kick (and vice-versa) are just as capable of taking advantage of this synergy. It is also likely that both firms will place a great deal of effort into curating dedicated marketing campaigns to keep fans informed as this partnership makes additional headlines.
A Sign of the Times?
This partnership has already made waves across the iGaming ecosystem. Might it also signal a paradigm shift in relation to the larger online entertainment community? Competition has become rife, and brands that wish to remain one step ahead of the fold must develop novel strategies that appeal to an increasingly diverse target audience. One of the ways in which this can be accomplished is to essentially “join forces”, and to offer the best of both worlds to fans. RIOT Games and Kick.com seem to mutually agree with this observation.
So, might we witness addiitional partnerships, or even mergers in the coming years? The verdict is still out, although there is little doubt that other firms are likely to derive inspiration from this recent move.
Either way, RIOT Games and Kick have entered into a brave new world, and with a significant amount of digital fanfare. This partnership is excellent news for developers, gaming aficionados, and live-streaming enthusiasts in general.
