Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG 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 CG 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 indicate a compact team is building combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining 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 vacancy seeks experts in background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly references the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP knowledge as a added advantage, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the probable location. The temporary structure of these roles generally suggests early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be some time before formal declaration or launch. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animated productions, card games and mobile games. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the organisation’s dedication to exploring different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer role represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up. The job description highlights applicants require deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot understands the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By hiring experts who are skilled at creating immersive combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The need for Unreal Engine knowledge additionally shows that Riot is utilising established industry tools to accomplish its objectives, allowing the team to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Setting
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag 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 leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences across different 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-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that satisfy dedicated players. This approach maximises the value of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination similar to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. 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 card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms 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 growth plan, offering players an entirely different way to interact with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative demonstrates particularly noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-connected projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the hiring of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By developing games 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 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 initiatives in development simultaneously across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra setting growing by means of interconnected game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Existing IP enables Riot to utilise established storyline and character rosters efficiently
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses typically require substantial time before reaching playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects establishes an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has moved beyond previous failures and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
