Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.
We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.
That's where you come in.
As a Senior 3D Character Artist III at Riot Games, you will contribute to the creation of 3D characters for projects, crafting visual experiences and assets that surprise and delight players.
You will work closely with Creative Director, Art Lead, TA Lead, Delivery Managers, Designers, Engineers, cross-discipline artists, and to ensure alignment on vision and priorities. As part of the 3D craft discipline, you will support the production of 3D characters and the final material adjustments to enhance the atmosphere and depth of the game. You will also create functional objects to meet the project's needs. With your artistic and technical expertise, you will create stunning visual effects that convey essential game information. Your skills in asset transformation and system setup will enable you to reimagine existing elements and develop fresh visual experiences that resonate with players.
As a Rioter in China, you'll join a team of internationally and culturally diverse professionals that share our prioritization of player experience, rejection of convention and maniacal passion for gaming.
To reinforce Riot’s collaborative culture in our China offices, we’ve decided to do away with the constraints of traditional hierarchical title structures that are more common in the region. Titles don’t really matter at any of Riot’s offices, but we chose to take this extra step in our China offices to foster a space where teamwork thrives. We believe that removing this constraint will promote individual autonomy, ownership, collaboration, and a focus on results. We promise you won’t need a title at Riot to make an impact.
Responsibilities:
Reliably produce high-quality look and feel 3D character assets with exceptional textures and appearances, executing tasks independently and constantly raising or redefining standards
Create high-quality stylized 3D character assets from concept to in-engine implementation, aligned with the creative direction.
Leverage extensive topology experience to work with rigging and animators, delivering low-poly models with optimal efficiency
Understand and elevate concept designs while considering technical and design constraints, such as polygon counts, texture memory limits, and topology structure
Solve complex production challenges, collaborate effectively across disciplines, and ensure all assets meet the project's vision and creative direction. Actively participate in optimization and iteration processes
Easily understand and clearly articulate the product’s distinctive visual style, while supporting and maintaining it
Consistently reflect and uphold company values in your work and interactions
Maintain high standards for work quality and output, while supporting team leadership in operational efforts
Assist team artists in skill development and maintain artistic consistency across the team
Help shape team initiatives and collaborate with the team to drive goal achievement
Proactively solve problems, passionately pursue creativity, and lead by example
Required Qualifications:
6+ years of work experience, with 8 years preferred.
Proven ability to independently complete stylized PBR production workflows.
Strong artistic judgment, understanding of human anatomy, form, and color theory.
Proficiency with modeling tools like Maya/3ds Max, sculpting tools like ZBrush, texturing tools like Substance Painter, and Unreal Engine.
Familiarity with the League of Legends IP and its style
Familiarity with other Riot IP styles is a plus
Desired Qualifications:
Experience in NPR (Non-Photorealistic Rendering) and hand-painted textures
Experience in early-stage production and development.
Shipped at least one game project.
In-depth experience with at least one mainstream game.
A portfolio showcasing high-quality stylized character assets is required.
Extensive experience working with various game engines, both licensed and proprietary.
Strong experience with modeling, sculpting, and texturing tools like Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Photoshop
When applying, please include a portfolio containing high-quality artwork, especially stylized work. You may be asked to complete an art test.
For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about the experiences of players, this could be the role for you!
