Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, based on recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—suggest 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 formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a small team is developing fighting mechanics from the ground up 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 various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, 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—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a bonus qualification, clearly establishing Runeterra as the probable location. The fixed-term character of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from official announcement or release. This revelation highlights Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated series, trading card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the company’s commitment to exploring various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Job Postings Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer posting constitutes the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up. The job description emphasises candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot recognises the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action role-playing 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-oriented titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging industry-standard technology to realise its goals, permitting the developers to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Location
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, character roster 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 familiar components that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay experiences throughout various 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-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy enhances the value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to well-known 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 ambitions beyond its origins as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animation 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 world worthy of exploration across 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 release window of this development effort stands as particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO still in active production 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 capacity to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy 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 indicates 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 titles in progress simultaneously throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra setting expanding through interconnected game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Established IP allows Riot to utilise existing narrative and character lineups efficiently
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development initiatives at major studios typically require considerable duration before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work demonstrates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines 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 progress successfully, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s substantial dedication in delivering quality experiences rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now emphasises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.
