Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to newly uncovered job listings published on 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 in progress, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a small team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Surfaces
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly names the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP familiarity as a desirable skill, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the probable location. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to initial production phases, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from official announcement or launch. This finding underscores Riot’s broader strategy to expand the League brand beyond its core MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animated productions, card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the firm’s resolve to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract roles suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Show
Combat Systems at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer role constitutes the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from scratch. The job description highlights candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This level of specificity suggests Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The focus on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the essential value of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop immersive combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to compete seriously within a saturated market of action-focused titles. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency further demonstrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to achieve its vision, permitting the developers to concentrate creative effort on what makes the game unique rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Location
Although neither position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends intellectual property 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 developed across multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The choice to place the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader 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 creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. 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.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent 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 highly praised Arcane animated series 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 throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this project initiative demonstrates especially noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring 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 dual-project approach 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 suggests 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 simultaneously throughout diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra world extending via interconnected gaming experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Existing IP permits Riot to leverage current storyline and roster of characters efficiently
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the advertised roles suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, likely years away from any public reveal or release. Preliminary research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand considerable duration before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to investigating 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 test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the pressure of tight schedules or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the convergence of multiple League projects generates an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, 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 underscores Riot’s substantial dedication in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
