Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, based on newly uncovered job listings posted to 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 highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings suggest a compact team is building fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project 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 world. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks experts in background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a desirable skill, clearly establishing Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from public reveal or launch. This finding highlights Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animation projects, collectible card games and mobile titles. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the firm’s resolve to examining various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position highlights stylised character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Disclose
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The role specification highlights candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the core systems that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot understands the critical importance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action RPG genre. By hiring experts who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The need for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is utilising established industry tools to accomplish its objectives, enabling the team to direct creative resources on what sets the game apart rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and world creation that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s wider franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences throughout various 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 approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Expanding the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its beginnings as a competitive multiplayer online battle arena. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms 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 growth plan, offering players an entirely different way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this project initiative demonstrates notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying 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 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 titles under development at the same time across different studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending through integrated game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP allows Riot to leverage 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 infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration 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 restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of immediate deadlines or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects establishes an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles throughout its portfolio of significant franchises.
