VALORANT Game Director Joe Ziegler is stepping down from his role after eight years shaping the tactical shooter, Riot Games announced today. A Riot veteran since 2010, Ziegler helped build VALORANT from the ground up, drawing on his deep experience in game design.
Ziegler assured fans he won't stray far from VALORANT and its dedicated team. Instead, he'll pivot to new projects at Riot, potentially including upcoming Riot Forge titles teased at November's Nintendo Showcase or the studio's anticipated MMO.
As Game Director since VALORANT's closed beta launch, Ziegler has been instrumental in its evolution. In a 2020 Polygon interview, he recalled early brainstorming sessions where he conceptualized the game amid discussions on Riot's next big titles.
Under his guidance, VALORANT has grown globally, with its esports scene booming—peaking at over one million viewers during December's VCT Challengers, per EsportsCharts data. "Esports is something we should be building with players, developers, and organizations in constant discussion, iterating on its future," Ziegler emphasized in April 2020.
Senior Director Andy Ho, who joined Riot's game direction team in 2017, will succeed Ziegler. "Andy has dedicated years to VALORANT, and I have full confidence he'll elevate it beyond what I could envision," Ziegler stated.
