Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered 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—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 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, signalling an significant growth of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a desirable skill, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the probable location. The contract nature of these roles typically indicates initial production phases, meaning the action role-playing game could still be some time before official announcement or release. This revelation underscores Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League brand beyond its core MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animated series, collectible card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the organisation’s dedication to investigating multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics creation
- CG animator role highlights stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer posting represents the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification stresses applicants require extensive experience 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 govern enemy behaviour. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot understands the essential value of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By bringing on specialists who are skilled at creating compelling combat mechanics, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is utilising proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader strategic approach of developing linked gameplay 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 creates opportunities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that satisfy dedicated players. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent work on a League of Legends action RPG constitutes 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 varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a single-game franchise into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, offering players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this project initiative stands as notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related 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 displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors proven approaches 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 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 |
- Multiple League initiatives in progress at the same time across diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra world growing through integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Established IP permits Riot to leverage existing storyline and character lineups efficiently
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates real dedication to exploring 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 experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates an fascinating 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 genre-spanning franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of major projects.
