Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, based on recently discovered job listings posted to 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—suggest an early-phase R&D project is underway, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a small team is developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-troubled League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Surfaces
The two contract postings found on Riot’s recruitment 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 building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—fundamental components that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks experts in background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions flag League of Legends IP understanding as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the likely setting. The contract nature of these roles generally suggests preliminary creation stages, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from public reveal or release. This discovery highlights Riot’s broader strategy to broaden the League series away from its main MOBA game, subsequent to thriving extensions into animation projects, trading card games and mobile titles. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action role-playing game demonstrates the firm’s resolve to investigating multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project uses Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract roles suggest early-stage R&D phase presently underway
What the Employment Opportunities Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Centre
The Action Game Combat Designer role represents the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat mechanics from the ground up. The role specification stresses candidates must possess extensive experience in action games and ARPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, 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 established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat feel and mechanics suggests that Riot recognises the critical importance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who are skilled at creating immersive combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete effectively within a saturated market of action-focused titles. The need for Unreal Engine expertise further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to realise its goals, enabling the team to concentrate creative effort on what sets the game apart rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Location
Although neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag familiarity with League of Legends intellectual property as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This deliberate approach allows Riot to leverage the established narrative, cast of characters and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst offering audiences with recognisable elements that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider strategic approach of developing interconnected experiences throughout various gaming genres. By anchoring the new project to the identical 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 complete entertainment hub similar to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported work on a League of Legends action RPG represents a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive team-based online game. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach transforms League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an completely new way to engage with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative stands as particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-related projects. With the MMO continuing development following its 2024 reset and the hiring of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is demonstrating remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors successful strategies employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By creating titles across varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests 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 initiatives in progress at the same time throughout different studios and types
- Runeterra world growing via integrated gaming experiences and media adaptations
- Established IP allows Riot to utilise current storyline and character lineups effectively
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action role-playing game remains in its infancy, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Early-stage research and development initiatives at major studios generally demand considerable duration before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects demonstrates genuine commitment to exploring the ARPG genre within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the pressure of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects creates an fascinating development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG progress successfully, the publisher could cement its status as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The appointment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO underscores Riot’s serious investment in producing quality content rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the measured, restrained approach to the ARPG’s development indicates the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, properly funded production cycles within its portfolio of major projects.
