Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, based on recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game 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 formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is building combat systems from the ground up 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 throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Comes to Light
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s careers 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 show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks professionals with experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly references the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP familiarity as a added advantage, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the likely setting. The fixed-term character of these roles generally suggests early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from official announcement or release. This finding underscores Riot’s overarching plan to diversify the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animated productions, collectible card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG demonstrates the company’s commitment to exploring different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylised character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The job description stresses candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The focus on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot acknowledges the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop compelling combat mechanics, the company is indicating its plan to establish itself within a saturated market of action-driven games. The demand for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is utilising industry-standard technology to accomplish its objectives, permitting the developers to concentrate creative effort on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop
Although neither job posting explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, character roster and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading 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 investment in the narrative.
The choice to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences across different 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-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This approach maximises the value of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to well-known 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 major broadening of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this project initiative proves especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the hiring of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games across varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement points to 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 |
- Several League initiatives under development at the same time across diverse studios and types
- Runeterra universe expanding via interconnected interactive experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Established IP permits Riot to leverage established lore and roster of characters successfully
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before reaching playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects creates an intriguing 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 reflects Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles within its portfolio of significant franchises.
