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 Systems 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 small team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring 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 show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly references the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from official announcement or launch. This revelation underscores Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League brand away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the firm’s resolve to examining various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Job Postings Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Core
The Action Game Combat Designer posting constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification stresses candidates must possess extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the core systems that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot understands the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft 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 expertise additionally shows that Riot is employing proven technology standards to realise its goals, allowing the team to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, character roster and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay experiences throughout various gaming genres. By tying the new project to the identical 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 strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, providing players an entirely different way to engage with the cherished game world.
The release window of this development effort proves especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development 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 ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games across different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through diverse gameplay 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 initiatives in progress simultaneously throughout diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra world extending through linked game offerings and multimedia adaptations
- Well-established IP enables Riot to leverage established lore and roster of characters successfully
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 official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios generally demand substantial time before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work demonstrates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects generates an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s substantial dedication in creating quality products rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now emphasises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
