Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-stage research and development project is underway, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an significant growth of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Game Designer role specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required 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 define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a desirable skill, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles generally suggests preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from official announcement or publication. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animated series, card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the organisation’s dedication to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator position highlights stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Combat Systems at the Core
The Combat Game Designer posting forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The role specification highlights applicants require strong proficiency in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to compete effectively within a crowded marketplace of action-focused titles. The need for Unreal Engine expertise also illustrates that Riot is leveraging established industry tools to achieve its vision, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Backdrop
Although neither job posting explicitly names the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, cast of characters and world creation that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider strategic approach of developing 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 generates possibilities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the value of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to established 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 significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been progressively expanding the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, offering players an entirely different way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this development effort 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 displaying 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 different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through diverse gameplay whilst generating excitement for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement points to 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 |
- Multiple League projects in development simultaneously across diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending via linked gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to leverage existing storyline and roster of characters effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates 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 foundational phase allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects generates an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could establish itself 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 creating quality products rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has learned from past missteps and now emphasises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of significant franchises.
