Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a CG animator—indicate an early-stage research and development project is underway, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings indicate a small team is building fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an significant growth 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 hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks professionals with experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the likely setting. The fixed-term character of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from formal declaration or release. This finding highlights Riot’s broader strategy to expand the League series away from its main MOBA game, following years of prosperous ventures into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the company’s commitment to exploring various game types within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage research and development phase presently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Demonstrate
Combat Systems at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer role represents the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The role specification stresses candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity indicates Riot is not simply applying existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot acknowledges the vital significance of responsive, satisfying gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who understand how to craft immersive combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete seriously within a saturated market of action-focused titles. The demand for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging industry-standard technology to achieve its vision, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on what makes the game unique rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag 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 established narrative, cast of characters and world creation that has developed across 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 investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader strategic approach of creating linked gameplay experiences across different gaming genres. By tying the new project to the same 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 value of the company’s creative investments whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable 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 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 varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy transforms League from a standalone game property 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 growth plan, offering players an entirely different way to engage with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this project initiative proves 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 showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support several significant launches simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches 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 building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement indicates 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 |
- Various League initiatives in progress at the same time throughout diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra setting extending through interconnected interactive experiences and cross-media expansions
- Existing IP allows Riot to leverage existing narrative and character lineups effectively
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 public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before achieving playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work 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 allows 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 compelling 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 multi-genre franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s substantial dedication 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, adequately resourced production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
