Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on recently discovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles 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 underway, 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 small team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an significant growth of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Surfaces
The two job listings found on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components 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 intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a added advantage, clearly establishing Runeterra as the likely setting. The contract nature of these roles usually points to initial production phases, meaning the action RPG could still be a considerable period from official announcement or publication. This finding highlights Riot’s broader strategy to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the firm’s resolve to investigating multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Disclose
Combat Systems at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer posting represents the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat mechanics from the ground up. The job description emphasises candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests 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 demonstrates that Riot recognises 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 demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a saturated market of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is leveraging established industry tools to achieve its vision, permitting the developers 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 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 deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with familiar components that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By tying 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 approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative efforts 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 constitutes a significant expansion 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 animation 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 genres and platforms. 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 stands as especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO still in active production 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 ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles across varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences 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 |
- Various League initiatives in progress simultaneously throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra world growing by means of interconnected game offerings and media adaptations
- Established IP permits Riot to leverage established narrative and character lineups effectively
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios generally demand considerable duration before achieving playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase allows the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects generates an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s substantial dedication in delivering quality experiences rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has moved beyond previous failures and now emphasises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
