Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 character 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 suggest a small team is building combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found 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 games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks experts in background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly names the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, clearly establishing Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from formal declaration or publication. This revelation reinforces Riot’s broader strategy to broaden the League series outside its primary MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animation projects, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG demonstrates the firm’s resolve to examining various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator role highlights stylized character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Show
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer posting represents the core pillar 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 stresses applicants require extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot recognises the essential value of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is employing industry-standard technology to realise its goals, enabling the team to focus creative energy 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 highlight familiarity with League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters 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 reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader strategic approach of creating linked gameplay experiences throughout various 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 establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported 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 highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, providing players an completely new way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this development effort demonstrates particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected 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 displaying 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 varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through diverse gameplay whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement indicates 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 projects under development at the same time across different studios and categories
- Runeterra setting growing via integrated game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP allows Riot to make use of current lore and roster of characters effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before reaching functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates real dedication to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. 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 public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection 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 multi-genre franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has learned from past missteps and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of major projects.
