TL;DR
- Riot Games establishes fourth West Coast studio in Seattle with 156,000 sq ft facility
- Seattle location prioritizes Valorant and upcoming MMO over League of Legends development
- MMO release expected in 5+ years following Riot’s meticulous development approach
- Unique hiring strategy welcomes candidates without game development experience
- New studio signals Riot’s expansion into new genres beyond MOBA territory

Riot Games significantly expands its operational footprint by establishing a new Pacific Northwest headquarters in Seattle, Washington. This strategic move represents the company’s fourth West Coast campus, supplementing existing facilities in Santa Monica, San Francisco, and St. Louis. The Seattle studio will concentrate development efforts primarily on enhancing Valorant and creating Riot’s highly anticipated MMORPG project.
Riot’s Seattle campus marks a deliberate shift away from the company’s flagship title, League of Legends, which established the studio’s industry reputation. Instead, development resources will focus intensively on Valorant’s ongoing evolution and the mysterious MMORPG currently in active development. Future project pipelines may incorporate additional titles like the fighting game codenamed Project L as development capacity expands.
The company officially announced acquisition of a 156,000 square foot property on Mercer Island through its corporate communications channels. Riot currently maintains over 20 international offices but only three within North America. Initial staffing projections indicate approximately 400 employees covering standard game development roles. While public descriptions emphasize Valorant development, industry veteran Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street clarified via social media that the Seattle facility will also drive development of Riot’s most ambitious undertaking to date.
Not this week (don't @ me quite yet!) but soon, we will have roles for the MMO team up here!https://t.co/FZz6TV9rVj
— Greg Street (@Ghostcrawler) December 9, 2021
No official announcements have surfaced regarding the MMORPG’s specific features or release schedule, as the project remains in early development phases following recent initiation.
Given the massive scope of creating a comprehensive MMORPG, enthusiasts should anticipate a minimum five-year development cycle before potential launch, with realistic projections suggesting even lengthier timelines. Riot Games demonstrates consistent patience when entering new gaming genres, as evidenced by Valorant’s meticulous development process, and the MMO will receive similar careful attention to quality and polish.
For aspiring professionals seeking involvement in this groundbreaking project, Ghostcrawler previously revealed Riot’s innovative recruitment strategy targeting candidates lacking traditional game development backgrounds.
The MMORPG will establish its narrative foundation within League of Legends’ expansive Runeterra universe, though likely operating independently from the evolving canon of contemporary League lore. Additional updates will emerge regarding construction milestones and specific title development roadmaps as the studio progresses toward operational status.
Action Checklist
- Monitor Riot’s career portal for Seattle-specific position openings
- Develop transferable skills in community management, narrative design, or technical writing
- Research Runeterra lore through official League of Legends universe resources
- Follow key Riot developers like Ghostcrawler for project insights
- Prepare portfolio demonstrating problem-solving abilities regardless of gaming background
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Riot Games to open Seattle office for Valorant and MMO Riot Games expands to Seattle focusing on Valorant and MMO development with strategic hiring insights
