Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on recently discovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a CG animator—suggest an early-phase R&D project is in progress, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings indicate a small team is developing fighting mechanics 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 various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Emerges
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy 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 names the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the likely setting. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be some time before formal declaration or launch. This revelation underscores Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League series outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animated series, trading card games and handheld applications. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the company’s commitment to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG 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 Employment Opportunities Disclose
Combat Systems at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer posting represents the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from scratch. The role specification highlights applicants require strong proficiency in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that govern enemy behaviour. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of responsive, satisfying 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 effectively within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The demand for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is utilising industry-standard technology to accomplish its objectives, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Setting
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, 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 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 wider strategic approach of creating interconnected 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 creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. This approach maximises the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of 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 diverse media and gaming experiences, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, providing players an completely new way to engage with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative 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 hiring of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases 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 points to 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 |
- Multiple League initiatives in development simultaneously across diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra universe growing via interconnected interactive experiences and media adaptations
- Existing IP allows Riot to make use of existing lore and roster of characters efficiently
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration before achieving functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects generates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has learned from past missteps and now focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles within its portfolio of major projects.
