Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to recently discovered job listings posted to 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 flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is building fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Comes to Light
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unannounced action title 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 show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. 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 CG animator vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly references the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP understanding as a desirable skill, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The fixed-term character of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from official announcement or launch. This revelation reinforces Riot’s broader strategy to diversify the League series away from its main MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the firm’s resolve to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Job Postings Show
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The job description emphasises candidates must possess extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather developing a bespoke system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot recognises the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By bringing on specialists who are skilled at creating engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete effectively within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency further demonstrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to realise its goals, enabling the team to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of 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 established narrative, cast of characters 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 offering audiences with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader strategic approach of developing linked gameplay experiences throughout various gaming genres. By anchoring 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 satisfy dedicated players. This approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its origins as a competitive team-based online game. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this development effort demonstrates particularly noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability 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 different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through diverse gameplay 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 |
- Multiple League titles in progress at the same time throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra world expanding by means of linked interactive experiences and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP enables Riot to make use of existing lore and character rosters effectively
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects indicates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. 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 alignment of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
