Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, according to newly uncovered job listings published on the company’s recruitment page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character animator—suggest an early-stage research and development project is underway, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an significant growth of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found 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 Game Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance 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 professionals with background 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 familiarity as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles typically indicates early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from public reveal or launch. This finding reinforces Riot’s wider approach to diversify the League brand beyond its core MOBA game, following years of prosperous ventures into animation projects, collectible card games and mobile games. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG demonstrates the organisation’s dedication to examining various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Battle Systems at the Core
The Action Game Combat Designer posting represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The job description emphasises candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that govern enemy behaviour. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot understands the essential value of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to establish itself within a crowded marketplace of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is utilising proven technology standards to achieve its vision, allowing the team to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Location
Although neither job posting explicitly names the project, both postings highlight familiarity with League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, character roster and world creation 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 recognisable elements 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 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 creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the worth 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 work on 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 highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the cherished game world.
The release window of this development effort demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy 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 generating excitement 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 |
- Multiple League projects in progress simultaneously throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra world growing via interconnected game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Established IP enables Riot to leverage existing lore and roster of characters successfully
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects 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 genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase allows the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could establish 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 deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has moved beyond previous failures and now emphasises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
