Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a CG animator—indicate 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 formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently 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 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 Designer role specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks professionals with background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a added advantage, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from formal declaration or launch. This finding highlights Riot’s wider approach to diversify the League series beyond its core MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animated series, collectible card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the company’s commitment to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator position emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Show
Combat Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer role forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat mechanics from the ground up. The job description highlights candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, 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 suggests Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete effectively within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The need for Unreal Engine knowledge also illustrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to realise its goals, allowing the team to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight familiarity with 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, cast of characters and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader strategic approach of creating interconnected experiences across different 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-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This approach maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing 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 development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening 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 diverse media and gaming experiences, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, offering players an completely new way to interact with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this development effort stands as particularly noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles across different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement 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 |
- Various League projects in progress simultaneously across different studios and types
- Runeterra setting extending by means of integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Existing IP enables Riot to leverage established storyline and roster of characters successfully
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work demonstrates real dedication to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has moved beyond previous failures and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles throughout its portfolio of major projects.
