Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, according to recently discovered 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—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 formally revealed the project, the postings suggest a compact 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 ambitious expansion of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two job listings discovered on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is actively recruiting 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 required to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator position seeks professionals with background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly names the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP familiarity as a added advantage, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be a considerable period from official announcement or publication. This discovery underscores Riot’s overarching plan to broaden the League brand outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animation projects, collectible card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action RPG showcases the firm’s resolve to exploring multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role highlights stylised character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions suggest early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Core
The Combat Game Designer role represents the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position directly charged with building and iterating on combat mechanics from the ground up. The job description stresses candidates must possess strong proficiency in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, the underlying mechanics that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that govern enemy behaviour. 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 within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot understands the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop engaging combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to compete seriously within a crowded marketplace of action-driven games. The requirement for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is utilising proven technology standards to realise its goals, permitting the developers to direct creative resources on the game’s distinctive elements rather than developing custom tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Likely Setting
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight 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 existing lore, character roster and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout various platforms, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s broader franchise strategy of creating interconnected experiences across different gaming genres. By anchoring 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 approach enhances the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a major broadening of the franchise’s ambitions beyond its origins 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach converts 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, providing players an completely new way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The scheduling of this project initiative demonstrates 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 ex-World of Warcraft director Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity 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 maintain player engagement through varied experiences whilst building anticipation 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 |
- Various League initiatives in progress at the same time across different studios and types
- Runeterra setting expanding by means of integrated gaming experiences and multimedia adaptations
- Well-established IP enables Riot to utilise current storyline and character lineups effectively
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its infancy, probably several years before any official announcement or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand considerable duration before reaching playable prototypes, let alone commercial viability. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG category within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation 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 generates an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in genre-spanning franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has moved beyond previous failures and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.
