Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, 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 Game Designer and another for a CG 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 officially announced the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two job listings 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 specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected 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 professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies 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 RPG could still be a considerable period from formal declaration or launch. This discovery reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to diversify the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of prosperous ventures into animated series, collectible card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the firm’s resolve to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Disclose
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The role specification highlights applicants require extensive experience in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot recognises the vital significance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who understand how to craft immersive combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to compete effectively within a saturated market of action-driven games. The need for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is utilising established industry tools to realise its goals, allowing the team to concentrate creative effort on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Location
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, cast of characters and world creation that has developed across various platforms, 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 offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider strategic approach of developing linked gameplay 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 generates possibilities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions 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 highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating 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 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 |
- Several League projects in progress at the same time throughout diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra setting growing by means of interconnected game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP allows Riot to leverage existing storyline and character rosters efficiently
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses typically require considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects generates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in creating quality products rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of significant franchises.
