Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—suggest an early-phase R&D project is in progress, 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 suggest a small team is building fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an significant growth of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the likely setting. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates initial production phases, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from formal declaration or release. This discovery reinforces Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League series beyond its core MOBA game, following years of prosperous ventures into animation projects, trading card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the firm’s resolve to exploring different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer role represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification emphasises applicants require strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that govern enemy behaviour. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who know how to develop compelling combat mechanics, the company is indicating its plan to compete seriously within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise also illustrates that Riot is utilising industry-standard technology to accomplish its objectives, enabling the team to concentrate creative effort on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters 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 offering audiences with familiar components that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader 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-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. This approach maximises the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG constitutes 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 card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a single-game franchise into a expansive entertainment platform, 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 completely new way to engage with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this development effort stands as particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of former World of Warcraft lead 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 other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles across different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst building anticipation 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 |
- Several League titles in progress at the same time throughout diverse studios and types
- Runeterra world extending through integrated gaming experiences and cross-media expansions
- Established IP enables Riot to utilise current storyline and character rosters successfully
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 public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration before achieving functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work demonstrates real dedication to exploring the ARPG genre within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of tight schedules or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during 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 focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.
