Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, according to newly uncovered 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—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 developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Surfaces
The two contract postings found 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 developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the probable location. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from formal declaration or publication. This finding highlights Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League series beyond its core MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animation projects, trading card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the organisation’s dedication to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator position emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Core
The Action Game Combat Designer role constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The role specification emphasises applicants require deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the essential value of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop compelling combat mechanics, the company is signalling its intention to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency further demonstrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to achieve its vision, enabling the team to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Setting
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 strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay 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 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’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout 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 particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected 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 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 maintain player engagement through varied experiences whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement indicates 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 titles under development at the same time across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra setting extending through integrated interactive experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Well-established IP allows Riot to leverage existing narrative and character rosters efficiently
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. 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 enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of immediate deadlines or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s serious investment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
