Riot Games appears 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 temporary roles 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 flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings suggest a small team is building fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Hidden Venture Comes to Light
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on 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, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP understanding as a added advantage, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from formal declaration or publication. This revelation reinforces Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League series beyond its core MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animated series, collectible card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG demonstrates the firm’s resolve to investigating multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on 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 the player experience of combat, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot understands the critical importance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By hiring experts who are skilled at creating immersive combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete effectively within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The need for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, enabling the team to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Setting
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible 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 in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader strategic approach of developing interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By anchoring the new project to the same 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 enhances the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a major broadening of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive team-based online game. 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 multifaceted approach converts League from a single-game franchise into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration across 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 release window of this project initiative demonstrates notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors successful strategies 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 building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests 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 under development simultaneously throughout different studios and genres
- Runeterra world growing via linked game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP permits Riot to make use of existing lore and roster of characters effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration before achieving playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work demonstrates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage allows the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines 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 advance favourably, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
