Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, 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 desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is building combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly references the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP knowledge as a added advantage, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from official announcement or launch. This revelation underscores Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League franchise away from its main MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animated productions, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the company’s commitment to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Combat Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer posting forms the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The job description emphasises applicants require extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis 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 existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who know how to develop immersive combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a crowded marketplace of action-oriented titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to accomplish its objectives, allowing the team to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By anchoring the new project to the identical universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. This strategy maximises the value of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening 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 standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, providing players an entirely different way to engage with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games across varied genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through diverse gameplay whilst generating excitement for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement indicates the company is allocating 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 |
- Several League projects in progress at the same time across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra setting expanding through integrated game offerings and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to make use of established narrative and character lineups effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses typically require substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work demonstrates real dedication to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage allows the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s genuine commitment in producing quality content rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has moved beyond previous failures and now emphasises sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
