Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character 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 officially announced the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an significant growth of the franchise across 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 hiring for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights 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, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly references the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to initial production phases, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from public reveal or launch. This revelation underscores Riot’s broader strategy to broaden the League franchise away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated series, card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the firm’s resolve to investigating multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics creation
- CG animator position highlights stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions suggest early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer role forms the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification highlights candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot recognises the critical importance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is employing proven technology standards to realise its goals, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on the game’s distinctive elements rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Setting
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst providing players with familiar components that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports 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-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This strategy enhances 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’ apparent work on a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a major broadening of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this project initiative stands as especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors successful strategies employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games across varied genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through varied experiences whilst generating excitement 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 |
- Various League projects in development simultaneously throughout diverse studios and types
- Runeterra setting expanding through integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Well-established IP enables Riot to utilise existing storyline and roster of characters efficiently
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to exploring the ARPG genre 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 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 fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s substantial dedication in producing quality content rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of ambitious titles.
