Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, based on recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-phase R&D project is in progress, with both roles highlighting 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 developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two job listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role specifically emphasises developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks professionals with experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly references the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The fixed-term character of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from official announcement or publication. This revelation reinforces Riot’s broader strategy to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated productions, card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the company’s commitment to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Disclose
Fighting Mechanics 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 systems from scratch. The job description highlights applicants require extensive experience in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that govern enemy behaviour. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the vital significance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By hiring experts who are skilled at creating immersive combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to compete seriously within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge also illustrates that Riot is leveraging industry-standard technology to accomplish its objectives, allowing the team to concentrate creative effort on what sets the game apart rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with 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 reward engaged fans. This strategy enhances the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination similar to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, offering players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this project initiative proves notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games across different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through diverse gameplay whilst building anticipation 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 titles under development at the same time throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra universe expanding via integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Well-established IP permits Riot to leverage established storyline and roster of characters effectively
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses typically require substantial time before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to exploring the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
