Riot Games seems 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 contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character animator—suggest an early-phase R&D project is in progress, 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 active production, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Confidential Initiative Surfaces
The two contract postings found on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role specifically emphasises developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks professionals with 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 highlight League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, clearly establishing Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be some time before official announcement or publication. This discovery underscores Riot’s wider approach to diversify the League series beyond its core MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animation projects, card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the organisation’s dedication to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role highlights stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer posting constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat mechanics from the ground up. The job description stresses applicants require extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot understands the critical importance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who are skilled at creating engaging combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The demand for Unreal Engine expertise additionally shows that Riot is leveraging established industry tools to achieve its vision, allowing the team to concentrate creative effort on what sets the game apart rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading 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 choice to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of developing interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By tying the new project to the same universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot creates opportunities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that satisfy dedicated players. This strategy enhances the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this development effort proves notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy 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 diverse gameplay whilst generating excitement for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests the company is distributing development 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 projects under development simultaneously across different studios and types
- Runeterra universe growing through interconnected interactive experiences and media adaptations
- Established IP permits Riot to utilise current lore and character lineups effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects indicates 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 test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects generates an fascinating 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 genre-spanning franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s substantial dedication in producing quality content rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of ambitious titles.
