Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to recently discovered job listings published on the company’s careers page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—indicate an early-stage research and development project is in progress, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not officially announced the project, the postings suggest a small team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an significant growth of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Comes to Light
The two job listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role specifically emphasises building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—fundamental components that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly references the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP knowledge as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be years away from official announcement or publication. This discovery highlights Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League brand away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animated series, card games and handheld applications. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the company’s commitment to examining different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation proficiency
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Combat Game Designer role forms the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The role specification stresses candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the AI systems that govern enemy behaviour. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather creating a custom system designed to provide a distinctive action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat mechanics and feel demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the critical importance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action role-playing genre. By bringing on specialists who understand how to craft engaging combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to establish itself within a saturated market of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise also illustrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to realise its goals, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the probable setting. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, character roster and worldbuilding that has developed across various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG within Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader strategic approach of creating 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-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the value of the company’s creative investments whilst establishing Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination 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 constitutes a significant expansion of the franchise’s ambitions 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 card game. This multifaceted approach transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a world worthy of exploration across multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The timing of this project initiative proves notably noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments 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 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 different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement 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 at the same time throughout different studios and categories
- Runeterra universe extending by means of linked interactive experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to make use of existing lore and character lineups efficiently
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contract nature of the advertised roles suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Preliminary research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand substantial time before achieving playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects indicates real dedication to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initial stage allows the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing 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 throughout the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in producing quality content rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now prioritises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.
