Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, according to newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-phase R&D project is underway, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Surfaces
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role specifically emphasises developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks professionals with background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly names the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a desirable skill, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the probable location. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be some time before formal declaration or release. This discovery underscores Riot’s broader strategy to expand the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of thriving extensions into animated series, collectible card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the company’s commitment to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer posting constitutes the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the position explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch. The role specification stresses applicants require extensive experience 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 govern enemy behaviour. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not merely implementing established combat systems but rather developing a bespoke system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot understands the critical importance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a competitive landscape of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is leveraging established industry tools to realise its goals, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on what sets the game apart rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay experiences throughout various gaming genres. By tying the new project to the identical universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot generates possibilities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This approach maximises the worth of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to established franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening of the franchise’s aspirations 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this project initiative stands as 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 ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios 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 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 |
- Various League titles in progress simultaneously throughout diverse studios and types
- Runeterra world extending through linked game offerings and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to make use of existing narrative and character lineups successfully
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, likely years away from any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand considerable duration before achieving playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects indicates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects creates an compelling development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG advance favourably, the publisher could establish itself as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s serious investment in creating quality products rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
