Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, based on recently discovered 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 CG animator—suggest an early-stage research and development 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 compact team is developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio Confidential Initiative 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 Game Designer role specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly identifies the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP understanding as a desirable skill, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from public reveal or publication. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to diversify the League franchise beyond its core MOBA game, following years of thriving extensions into animation projects, trading card games and handheld applications. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the organisation’s dedication to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions suggest early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Show
Combat Systems at the Core
The Action Game Combat Designer role forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from scratch. The role specification emphasises applicants require extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather developing a bespoke system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the essential value of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating compelling combat mechanics, the company is signalling its intention to compete seriously within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise additionally shows that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to realise its goals, enabling the team to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences 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 wider franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay 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-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. This strategy enhances the value of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub similar to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a major broadening 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 varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the highly praised Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy 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 growth plan, providing players an completely new way to interact with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this development effort stands as particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity 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 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 |
- Several League projects under development at the same time throughout different studios and types
- Runeterra universe extending via integrated game offerings and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP allows Riot to utilise current narrative and roster of characters successfully
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses typically require considerable duration before reaching functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to investigating the ARPG category within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage enables the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects creates 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 genre-spanning franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s serious investment in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has learned from past missteps and now prioritises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles within its portfolio of major projects.
