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 recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a CG 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 suggest a compact 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 full development, signalling an significant growth of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s 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 particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks professionals with background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP knowledge as a desirable skill, clearly establishing Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The fixed-term character of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from official announcement or release. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated productions, collectible card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the company’s commitment to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator position highlights stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Battle Systems at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer posting represents the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The job description highlights candidates must possess extensive experience 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 indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot understands the vital significance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop immersive combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete seriously within a crowded marketplace of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is utilising established industry tools to realise its goals, permitting the developers to focus creative energy 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 intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, character roster and world creation that has developed across multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader strategic approach of developing interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By anchoring 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 satisfy dedicated players. This strategy maximises 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.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent 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 progressively expanding the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an entirely different way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this development effort demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments 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 demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By creating titles across varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst generating excitement 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 |
- Multiple League initiatives in development at the same time across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra world expanding by means of integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Well-established IP permits Riot to leverage established storyline and character rosters effectively
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand substantial time before achieving functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase enables the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
