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 recruitment 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 formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a small team is developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Emerges
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title 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 expected to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
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 expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to initial production phases, meaning the action RPG could still be a considerable period from official announcement or publication. This discovery reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of prosperous ventures into animation projects, trading card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the company’s commitment to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics creation
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer role represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch. The job description stresses applicants require deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the core systems that foster player 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 building a tailored system designed to provide a unique 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 RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft compelling combat mechanics, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete effectively within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge additionally shows that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on what makes the game unique rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Location
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies 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, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to set the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader franchise strategy 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 generates possibilities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. This approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening 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 beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been progressively expanding the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animation 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 across multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG fits naturally into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to engage with the cherished game world.
The release window of this development effort stands as especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By developing games across different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through diverse gameplay 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 titles in progress at the same time throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra world expanding via integrated interactive experiences and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP enables Riot to utilise existing storyline and character rosters successfully
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development projects at large development houses generally demand substantial time before achieving 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 enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this foundational phase enables the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the convergence 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 establish itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s substantial dedication in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
