Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 Systems Designer and another for a CG animator—suggest an early-stage research and development project is underway, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings indicate 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, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game 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 highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a added advantage, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The fixed-term character of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action RPG could still be some time before formal declaration or release. This discovery underscores Riot’s overarching plan to diversify the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, following years of prosperous ventures into animated series, trading card games and handheld applications. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the company’s commitment to examining different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator role highlights stylised character animation proficiency
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Job Postings Disclose
Combat Systems at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer role forms the foundation 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 highlights candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete effectively within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The need for Unreal Engine expertise also illustrates that Riot is utilising industry-standard technology to realise its goals, enabling the team to focus creative energy on the game’s distinctive elements rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame 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. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider franchise strategy 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 maximises the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening 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 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 card game. This multifaceted approach transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, offering players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this development effort demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios 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 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 titles in development simultaneously across diverse studios and types
- Runeterra universe extending by means of integrated game offerings and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to leverage existing lore and character lineups successfully
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects indicates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase 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 establishes an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in producing quality content rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now emphasises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
