Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, according to recently discovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two contract positions 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 in progress, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a compact 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, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Emerges
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 Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining 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—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the likely setting. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from formal declaration or launch. This discovery underscores Riot’s broader strategy to diversify the League brand away from its main MOBA game, following years of prosperous ventures into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the organisation’s dedication to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Show
Combat Systems at the Core
The Combat Game Designer role forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up. The role specification emphasises applicants require deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a unique action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot recognises the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete effectively within a saturated market of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise additionally shows that Riot is employing proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, allowing the team to focus creative energy on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, character roster and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout various platforms, 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 familiar components that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The choice to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay experiences across different gaming genres. By anchoring 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 satisfy dedicated players. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions 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 animated series 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 world worthy of exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, offering players an entirely different way to engage with the cherished game world.
The release window of this development effort demonstrates notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO still in active production 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 capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By creating titles 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 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 |
- Several League titles under development simultaneously across diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra setting expanding via interconnected game offerings and media adaptations
- Existing IP enables Riot to utilise existing storyline and character rosters efficiently
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contractual status of the posted positions 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 typically require considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work demonstrates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase enables the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s genuine commitment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has moved beyond previous failures and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
