Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, based on newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-phase R&D project is in progress, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role specifically emphasises developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP understanding as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the likely setting. The fixed-term character of these roles generally suggests preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from public reveal or release. This revelation underscores Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, after periods of prosperous ventures into animated productions, collectible card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action role-playing game demonstrates the firm’s resolve to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Disclose
Battle Systems at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer role constitutes the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification emphasises candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who understand how to craft compelling combat mechanics, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a crowded marketplace of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to realise its goals, enabling the team to focus creative energy on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Backdrop
Although neither job posting explicitly names the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider strategic approach of creating linked gameplay experiences across different gaming genres. By tying the new project to the identical universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot generates possibilities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been progressively expanding the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this project initiative proves notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By creating titles across different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests the company is distributing development resources strategically across its global operations.
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| League of Legends MMO | Active production with new leadership |
| Action RPG (Unannounced) | Early-stage R&D at Shanghai studio |
| Arcane animated series | Established franchise component |
| Legends of Runeterra card game | Ongoing live service title |
- Various League initiatives under development simultaneously across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra setting extending by means of linked interactive experiences and cross-media expansions
- Established IP enables Riot to make use of established storyline and roster of characters successfully
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses generally demand considerable duration before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates real dedication to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage enables the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects creates an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s genuine commitment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has learned from past missteps and now emphasises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles across its portfolio of ambitious titles.
