A closer look
The most profitable free game in the world makes all its money off sheer vanity. Riot Games doesn't charge you a dime to play League of Legends. Instead, they weaponize the fragile egos of millions of deeply competitive gamers by offering them premium 'skins' to make their characters look cooler while they furiously type insults at their teammates. They essentially built a 2-billion-dollar-a-year business model entirely around making sure your virtual wizard is wearing a Gucci-equivalent jacket while you die.
