Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to newly uncovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a CG animator—indicate an early-phase R&D project is underway, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings indicate a compact team is building fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Emerges
The two contract postings discovered 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 particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise 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 animation specialist position seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a bonus qualification, clearly establishing Runeterra as the likely setting. The fixed-term character of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from public reveal or launch. This discovery reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League franchise beyond its core MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animated productions, trading card games and mobile games. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the firm’s resolve to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator role highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer role forms the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat mechanics from the ground up. The job description stresses candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that govern enemy behaviour. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot recognises the critical importance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating compelling combat mechanics, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to accomplish its objectives, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Location
Although neither job posting explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, cast of characters and world creation 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 commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences across different gaming genres. By anchoring the new project to the same 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 approach enhances the worth 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 constitutes a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its beginnings 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a single-game franchise into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this project initiative stands as especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles across different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst generating excitement 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 |
- Various League titles under development at the same time across diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra universe growing by means of linked gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Established IP enables Riot to leverage existing lore and roster of characters efficiently
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses typically require substantial time before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects creates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has moved beyond previous failures and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
