Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in secret, according to recently discovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a character animator—suggest 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 formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a small team is developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an significant growth of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting for an unreleased action game set within the League of Legends world. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist vacancy seeks professionals with background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles usually points to early-stage development, meaning the action role-playing game could still be a considerable period from formal declaration or launch. This revelation highlights Riot’s broader strategy to diversify the League series outside its primary MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animated series, trading card games and handheld applications. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the firm’s resolve to examining different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Show
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer posting forms the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat systems from scratch. The role specification emphasises candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the core systems that drive engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the critical importance of satisfying, 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 crowded marketplace of action-oriented titles. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is employing proven technology standards to realise its goals, allowing the team to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to leverage the existing lore, cast of characters and world creation that has evolved throughout 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 offering audiences with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of developing linked gameplay experiences across different gaming genres. By anchoring 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 satisfy dedicated players. This approach enhances 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’ reported development of a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion 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 transforms League from a single-game franchise into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration across multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this growth plan, providing players an entirely different way to interact with the cherished game world.
The scheduling of this development effort demonstrates notably noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the hiring 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 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 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 |
- Multiple League titles in development at the same time across different studios and categories
- Runeterra setting expanding by means of linked gaming experiences and cross-media expansions
- Established IP permits Riot to leverage established storyline and roster of characters successfully
Timeline and Development Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its early stages, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development projects at major studios typically require considerable duration before achieving functional prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work indicates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initial stage allows the team to experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the convergence 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 cross-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s substantial dedication in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has moved beyond previous failures and now emphasises sustainable, adequately resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
