Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a character animator—indicate 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 formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a compact team is building combat systems from the ground up 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 across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Surfaces
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected 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 shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks professionals with experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly references the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The fixed-term character of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from public reveal or launch. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League brand beyond its core MOBA game, following years of successful expansions into animated series, trading card games and handheld applications. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the organisation’s dedication to exploring various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Core
The Combat Game Designer role represents the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The job description emphasises candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating immersive combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The demand for Unreal Engine expertise also illustrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to realise its goals, allowing the team to focus creative energy on the game’s distinctive elements rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with familiar components that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to set the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider strategic approach of developing interconnected experiences across different gaming genres. By tying the new project to the identical universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot creates opportunities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive team-based online game. The company has been progressively expanding the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this project initiative proves notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity 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 different genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst generating excitement 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 |
- Several League titles under development simultaneously throughout different studios and types
- Runeterra world growing through linked game offerings and media adaptations
- Well-established IP permits Riot to leverage existing storyline and character lineups effectively
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, 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 functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects indicates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could cement its status 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 delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has moved beyond previous failures and now prioritises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
