Full-Time

Principal 3D Character Artist

Unpublished R&D Product

Posted on 9/10/2026

Riot Games

Riot Games

5,001-10,000 employees

Online multiplayer game developer and publisher

No salary listed

Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

Los Angeles, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Art, Graphics & Animation (1)
Required Skills
Unreal Engine
ZBrush
3D Modeling

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Requirements
  • At least 8 years of character modeling experience as a Senior or Principal Artist in the gaming industry.
  • Strong experience with modeling, sculpting, and texturing programs such as Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
  • Extensive experience with Unreal Engine 5 or later.
  • Deep knowledge of human anatomy, form, and color theory.
  • Ability to stay up to date with industry trends and new processes.
  • Ability to set quality bars and provide actionable craft feedback to other artists.
  • A portfolio demonstrating a range of character styles and fidelities.
  • Experience collaborating across disciplines to solve visual, technical, and production challenges.
  • A portfolio of high-quality character art, including a range of character styles and fidelities.
Responsibilities
  • Produce the look and feel of high-fidelity 3D characters and cosmetic assets.
  • Understand project requirements to influence and create in-game assets that are optimized, performant, and animation-friendly.
  • Interpret and advance concept designs while accounting for technical and design constraints.
  • Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure assets perform correctly, align with project vision and style guides, and are ready to scale through a cosmetics pipeline.
  • Document and communicate processes to others and mentor junior team members.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working on cosmetic pipelines for live-service game operations.
  • Experience shipping multiple games and/or content for multiple live games.

Riot Games develops and publishes online multiplayer video games, with League of Legends as its flagship title. The game is free-to-play and supported by in-game purchases like cosmetic items and skins, while competitive play drives engagement through its esports ecosystem. Riot Games also runs Riot Forge, a publishing arm that partners with third-party developers to create new games within the League of Legends universe. The company earns revenue from cosmetic microtransactions, esports events, sponsorships, and merchandise. What sets Riot Games apart is its emphasis on building a large, global community around its titles and expanding its universe through collaborations with external developers. The goal is to create enduring, connected gaming experiences that sustain a vibrant community and a growing esports ecosystem around its flagship franchises.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

$15M

Headquarters

Los Angeles, California

Founded

2006

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Riftbound launches in Korea on September 18, 2026 with Seoul events and exclusive cards.
  • League of Legends Season 3 began July 29, 2026, keeping core players active.
  • Riot keeps 2XKO servers online through 2026, preserving community and monetization optionality.

What critics are saying

  • Riot ended 2XKO active development on August 20, 2026 after weak retention.
  • Riot cut roughly 80 2XKO employees in February 2026, signaling fragile execution.
  • If League of Legends growth stalls, Riot’s expansion bets lose their financing engine.

What makes Riot Games unique

  • League of Legends still anchors Riot’s multigame universe in 2026.
  • Riftbound expands Riot from digital hits into a physical TCG on September 18, 2026.
  • Riot ties game launches to esports brands like T1 and Caps for instant fandom.

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Benefits

Healthcare

Family Care

Open Paid Time Off

Retirement

Play Fund

Donation Matching

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

17%

1 year growth

17%

2 year growth

17%
PC Gamer
Sep 4th, 2026
Arc Raiders' executive producer admits its developers 'couldn't keep pace with the players' and their need for content, but promises Frozen Trail as the answer.

Arc Raiders' executive producer admits its developers 'couldn't keep pace with the players' and their need for content, but promises Frozen Trail as the answer. Published 3 hours ago "What we want to do is spend more time building quality stuff." If there's one thing you should never underestimate, it's a gamer's love for completing little tasks. Whether it's battle passes, meaningless fetch quests, or in Arc Raiders' case, its expeditions. There's just the right amount of dopamine involved for a neuron activation, so you best bet that they'll rip through them at an unthinkable speed. I'll concede that Embark Studios probably couldn't have foreseen the full extent of this love prior to Arc Raiders release, but still, the outcome is the same: gamers out-growing their once-beloved game because they managed to complete all their tasks way too fast. "We didn't really expect that amount of players to show up and play ARC Raiders," executive producer Aleksander Grøndal explains in an interview with GamesBeat. "That surprised us. We were a bit unprepared. That's one of the hard lessons we had to learn. When January came and some of the problems started with the game." Latest Videos FromPC Gamer After the Cyberpunk debacle, CDPR says Witcher 4 already runs well January saw the first crack in Arc Raiders' armour, as the novelty began to wear off and players became more keenly aware of how limited its content was alongside growing concerns about cheating and stream sniping. Unfortunately, despite some hard work from the team, the latter two points still remain contentious. "We have very dedicated people playing the game," Grøndal adds. "PC Gamer had some challenges around how much content there is in the game, how much progression there is in the game. PC Gamer had some, but the players wanted more. "We bet on trying to update it fast and giving players more things to do over time. That was our strategy, to try to meet those demands from players. The issue with that was the team just couldn't keep pace with the players. The players grew frustrated, because some of the things we shipped were perhaps not as good or as meaningful as they were hoping. That was another awakening for us." Embark has been very upfront about how its dev team errs on the smaller side for a live service game, which means it just couldn't keep pace with competitors like Call of Duty, Overwatch, or even Valorant, all of which have enough employees to keep the content mills constantly churning. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

Korea JoongAng Daily
Sep 3rd, 2026
Riot Games to launch Riftbound League of Legends TCG in Korea.

Riot Games to launch Riftbound League of Legends TCG in Korea. U.S. game developer Riot Games will launch its League of Legends (LoL) trading card game in Korea on Sept. 18, featuring a Korean-exclusive Ahri card and Seoul events. Published September 3, 2026 - 4:16 p.m. U.S. video game developer Riot Games will launch a Korean-language version of Riftbound, its first physical trading card game (TCG), on Sept. 18, it announced Thursday. Riftbound is set in the world of League of Legends (LoL), in which two to four players build decks and compete offline to control the battlefield. The game's first set, "Origins," has already been launched in North America, Europe and China since 2025. The set will make its official Korean debut later this month. TCG is a type of game played with collectible cards that players buy in randomized packs, called boosters, then use to build their own decks and fight opponents, often trading or collecting cards outside of gameplay itself. A new "Ahri, Gumiho" card will be included in booster packs for the Korean edition of "Origins." Ahri is the LoL champion modeled after the Korean folk legend of the nine-tailed fox, who was introduced when the game launched in Korea in 2011. The card's artwork pays homage to LoL's "Hanbok Ahri" skin and will appear in booster packs alongside the existing Ahri card at a set drop rate. Hanbok is traditional Korean dress. Riot Games is set to hold launch events tied to the Korean release. Events, including chances to win limited-edition promo cards, will run at high-end gaming space GGX in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, from Sept. 18 to 23, and at the I'Park Mall's retail space dubbed the Dopamine Station in Yongsan District, central Seoul, from Sept. 18 to 30. "Origins" products will also be available for purchase at the two locations. Riot Games said it plans to grow Riftbound's community in Korea by partnering with existing TCG shops and PC bang (internet cafe) chains, installing dedicated Riftbound stores that will offer both sales and play space. "Riot Games plans to expand opportunities for players to play Riftbound with friends or purchase the game in Korea's unique PC bang ecosystem," it said in a press release. More details on the Korean release of "Origins" and related launch events are available on Riftbound's official website and social media channels. Riot Games was founded in the United States in 2006. Its debut title LoL launched in 2009 and has grown into one of the most-played PC games in the world. Riot Games' other titles include Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, Valorant, League of Legends: Wild Rift and 2XKO. BY LEE JIAN [[email protected]]

AltChar
Aug 24th, 2026
Caps Hall of Legends Pass 2026 revealed with new Tristana and Orianna skins.

Caps Hall of Legends Pass 2026 revealed with new Tristana and Orianna skins. Published: 17:09, 24 August 2026 Key points from the article. * Riot Games launches Caps Hall of Legends Pass 2026 on September 10 with Patch 26.18, featuring a 100-level pass and new skins including Risen Legend Orianna and three Tristana collections * Standard pass rewards include 125 Mythic Essence, 11 Orbs, 15 Caps-themed icons/emotes, unique ward skin, banner, and "Martin 1" title * Three Tristana collection tiers available: Risen Legend (5,035 RP/$39), Immortalized Legend (32,035 RP), and Signature (59,000 RP/$453) with increasing levels of exclusive content * Event runs until October 20, with pass missions active until October 19, giving players extended time to unlock rewards Immortalized Legend Tristana Caps Signature Edition splash art Riot Games has revealed the Caps Hall of Legends Pass 2026, featuring new Orianna and Tristana skins, 100 levels of rewards, and premium collections costing up to 58,865 RP.

MLQ AI
Aug 22nd, 2026
Riot will stop active development of 2XKO in December 2026.

Riot will stop active development of 2XKO in December 2026. Key points * Riot says 2XKO costs substantially more to operate than it generates and that engagement stayed relatively flat despite larger updates. [[1]] * The game's final major content patch is planned for October, followed by an optional bug-fix patch in December; servers will remain online afterward. [[1]] * Riot previously reduced the team by about 80 employees, with affected staff offered internal-placement support or at least six months of notice pay and severance. [[2]] Riot Games will end active development of 2XKO in December 2026, less than a year after the League of Legends fighting game's full release. Riot said August 20 that it had not seen enough players remain engaged to put the game on a sustainable path. [[1]] The company did not disclose player-count, revenue or retention figures. Independent coverage also noted that 2XKO is not distributed through Steam, leaving no public Steam-based player-count record. [[3]] A live game with a shortened runway. Riot plans to release Lux in September and Samira in October, which will be the game's final major content update. A December patch may address bugs, but will not add major content. The game will remain free to download on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with online servers continuing beyond 2026. Riot will also unlock all champions and refund eligible purchases made on or before August 20. [[1]] The decision follows a February team reduction that affected about 80 developers, according to contemporary reporting. Riot said at the time that the game had a committed core audience but lacked the momentum needed to support its existing team size. [[2]] The 2026 Competitive Series will continue through its scheduled November finale. Riot's plan included 20 sponsored tournaments - five Majors and 15 Challenger events - and organizers may continue running online or offline 2XKO events after 2026 under community guidelines. [[4]] At the intersection of AI, tech, and markets. The stories that matter, in one email. Free - unsubscribe anytime.

Société jeu.video
Aug 21st, 2026
How to unlock ranked in League of Legends: what Riot actually confirms.

How to unlock ranked in League of Legends: what Riot actually confirms. Published on 21/08/2026 à 21:25 To understand how to unlock ranked in League of Legends, first identify the queue involved. Riot's May 27, 2026 announcement describes Ranked 5s, a trial reserved for full groups of five players. It confirms no new level, number of games, or account requirement for general ranked play. Key points. * Riot published a Ranked 5s trial on May 27, 2026, for full groups of five players. * The trial is intended to run for a few weeks during set time slots. * No new level, number of games, reward, or account condition is confirmed for general ranked play. * Riot does not confirm that Ranked 5s is permanent or continuously available. The queue determines what the announcement means. No specific unlock method is confirmed by the available official publication. Riot mentions neither a minimum level, nor a win streak, nor a number of normal games, nor a reward required to access general ranked play. The documented new feature is Ranked 5s, a queue for full teams of five during set time slots. It is not a confirmed procedure for unlocking classic ranked play. Read Riot's official publication about Ranked 5s, dated May 27, 2026. Any list that announces a specific level or number of games adds a condition absent from this source. Ranked 5s needs five players and a live time slot. Ranked 5s is a ranked queue for full groups of five players. The announcement does not describe automatic matchmaking that completes a partial group. Riot plans a time-limited trial lasting a few weeks, with set time slots. The stated goal is to bring together enough teams at the same time, with comparable skill levels. | Element | Confirmed | Not confirmed | | Ranked 5s | Trial for five players grouped together | Permanent availability | | Duration | A few weeks | Specific end date | | Schedule | Set time slots | Hours and regions concerned | | General ranked play | No new requirement announced | Level, games, reward, or account condition | Check the queue before looking for an unlock condition. * Open Riot's announcement and check the date: 2026-05-27. * Identify the queue concerned: general ranked play or Ranked 5s. * For Ranked 5s, gather five players before starting matchmaking. * Check the announced time slot when a trial period is active. * Reject any level or game threshold absent from an official communication. A queue being unavailable outside a time slot does not prove that your account is blocked. The source also does not confirm the region, platform, crossplay, or cross-save. There is no confirmed payment or game threshold. Do not buy anything to unlock a ranked queue. The official material mentions no price, reward, or paid content linked to access. Nor does it confirm a threshold for normal games. Playing may help you prepare, but no number is established. A five-player queue also does not guarantee that an incomplete group will be filled automatically. Ranked 5s should not be presented as permanent. Re-read Riot's official update if new schedules or additional rules are published. Prepare the team before the trial window. Gather the five players in advance, check the announced time slot, and designate the person coordinating invitations. That preparation follows the format explicitly described by Riot, without turning it into an additional official requirement. Confirm that all five players are ready before starting matchmaking. This can help avoid wasting a limited trial period, but it does not change the queue's stated conditions. For another multiplayer news story, read the feature on Gears of War: E-Day. That page covers a different game. The gaming articles and latest news also let you follow new topics on the site. Frequently asked questions. How many players are needed for Ranked 5s? What should you do if Ranked 5s does not appear? Where can you check future Ranked 5s rules? Verified sources. These links allow you to verify the key information used in this article. * leagueoflegends.com: https: //www.leagueoflegends.com/en-Jeu/news/dev/tldw-mayhem-ranked-5s-more-dev-update - official Riot publication dated 2026-05-27. It confirms the Ranked 5s trial for full groups of five. * leagueoflegends.com: https: //www.leagueoflegends.com/en-Jeu/ - official League of Legends website used as a general reference point for future official communications.