Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, according to recently discovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-stage research and development project is underway, 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 indicate a small team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers 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 particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly references the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the probable location. The contract nature of these roles typically indicates preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from public reveal or launch. This discovery reinforces Riot’s broader strategy to diversify the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, following years of successful expansions into animated series, collectible card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game demonstrates the firm’s resolve to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions suggest early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Combat Systems at the Core
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The role specification highlights candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that govern enemy behaviour. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot recognises the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft immersive combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to compete seriously within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The need for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to accomplish its objectives, enabling the team to direct creative resources on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither job posting 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 likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, character roster and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst providing players with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader strategic approach of creating interconnected experiences across different 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-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 similar 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 constitutes a major broadening 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 animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to engage with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this project initiative stands as notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles across varied 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 distributing development 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 development at the same time across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra universe growing through integrated game offerings and media adaptations
- Well-established IP allows Riot to leverage current narrative and roster of characters efficiently
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contract nature of the advertised roles 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 large development houses generally demand substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects establishes 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 genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.
