Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems 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 preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings suggest a compact team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Surfaces
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 scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a desirable skill, 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 some time before public reveal or launch. This finding underscores Riot’s overarching plan to diversify the League franchise away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to successful expansions into animated productions, trading card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the organisation’s dedication to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Show
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting constitutes the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch. The role specification stresses applicants require extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat mechanics and feel demonstrates that Riot understands the vital significance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating compelling combat mechanics, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a crowded marketplace of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is employing industry-standard technology to realise its goals, permitting the developers to concentrate creative effort 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 knowledge of League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, character roster and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader strategic approach 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-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations 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 animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an completely new way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this project initiative demonstrates notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development 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 ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By creating titles across different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through diverse gameplay 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 initiatives in progress at the same time across different studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending through interconnected interactive experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to leverage existing narrative and character rosters successfully
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development projects at major studios generally demand considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work indicates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s genuine commitment in producing quality content rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has moved beyond previous failures and now focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
