Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings published on the company’s recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—suggest an early-stage research and development 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 indicate a compact team is building 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 across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers 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 expected to demonstrate deep knowledge 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-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP understanding as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests initial production phases, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from official announcement or release. This discovery reinforces Riot’s broader strategy to expand the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of prosperous ventures into animated productions, card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the firm’s resolve to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game 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 presently underway
What the Job Postings Show
Combat Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The job description stresses candidates must possess extensive experience in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot understands the essential value of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who understand how to craft compelling combat mechanics, the company is signalling its intention to compete effectively within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is leveraging established industry tools to achieve its vision, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on the game’s distinctive elements rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, character roster and world creation that has developed across various platforms, 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 providing players with familiar components that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider franchise strategy of developing interconnected 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 approach enhances the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. 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 collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of 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 existing commitments to other League-related 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 demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability 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 varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst generating excitement for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests 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 |
- Various League initiatives in development at the same time across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra universe extending by means of linked gaming experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Well-established IP allows Riot to utilise established lore and character lineups successfully
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses typically require considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. 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 foundational phase allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules 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 cement its status as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles within its portfolio of significant franchises.
