Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, according to 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—indicate an early-phase R&D project is underway, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is developing fighting mechanics 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 Hidden Venture Comes to Light
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 specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly identifies the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, clearly establishing Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action RPG could still be some time before formal declaration or release. This finding underscores Riot’s wider approach to expand the League franchise beyond its core MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animation projects, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the company’s commitment to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer role constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up. The role specification stresses applicants require deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the core systems that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot acknowledges the vital significance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft immersive combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete effectively within a crowded marketplace of action-oriented titles. The need for Unreal Engine expertise additionally shows that Riot is utilising proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, enabling the team to focus creative energy on what makes the game unique rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider strategic approach of developing linked gameplay 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 generates possibilities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This approach enhances the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent work on a League of Legends action RPG constitutes 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 highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, offering players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this development effort stands as notably 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 ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support several significant launches 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 |
- Multiple League projects in progress simultaneously throughout diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending through interconnected gaming experiences and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP enables Riot to leverage established storyline and character rosters effectively
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Preliminary research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration before reaching playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work indicates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects generates an fascinating 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 genre-spanning franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has moved beyond previous failures and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of ambitious titles.
