Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, according to newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s recruitment page. Two temporary roles at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems 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 officially announced the project, the postings indicate a small team is developing combat systems from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across various game categories.
Shanghai Studio Secret Project Surfaces
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 world. The Combat Game Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks professionals with background in stylized character animation, suggesting Riot aims to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly names the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP understanding as a added advantage, strongly suggesting Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates preliminary creation stages, meaning the action role-playing game could still be some time before official announcement or publication. This revelation underscores Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League series beyond its core MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animation projects, trading card games and handheld applications. The parallel production of both an MMO and an action role-playing game showcases the firm’s resolve to examining multiple genres within the Runeterra universe.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics creation
- CG animator position emphasises stylized character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Fighting Mechanics at the Heart
The Combat Game Designer posting represents the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG ambitions, with the role explicitly tasked with developing and refining combat mechanics from scratch. The job description stresses applicants require strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the underlying mechanics that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail suggests Riot is not merely implementing existing combat frameworks but rather building a tailored system designed to provide a distinctive action experience in the League universe.
The emphasis on combat mechanics and feel suggests that Riot understands the vital significance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who are skilled at creating compelling combat mechanics, the company is indicating its plan to compete effectively within a competitive landscape of action-driven games. The demand for Unreal Engine proficiency further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, allowing the team to concentrate creative effort on the game’s distinctive elements rather than creating bespoke solutions from scratch.
Runeterra as the Probable Setting
Although neither position announcement 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 deliberate approach allows Riot to tap into the existing lore, cast of characters and world creation that has developed across various platforms, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and investment in the narrative.
The decision to place the action RPG in Runeterra also supports Riot’s broader franchise strategy of developing interconnected experiences across different gaming genres. By tying the new project to the same universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot generates possibilities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that satisfy dedicated players. 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.
Growing the League Universe
Riot Games’ apparent development of a League of Legends action RPG constitutes a significant expansion of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its origins as a competitive team-based online game. The company has been systematically broadening the League universe through diverse media and gaming experiences, from the highly praised Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multifaceted approach converts League from a standalone game property into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple different genres and mediums. The action RPG integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, providing players an completely new way to interact with the cherished game world.
The timing of this project initiative proves particularly 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 showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s ability to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This two-project strategy mirrors proven approaches employed by other major gaming publishers with sprawling universes. By creating titles 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 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 titles in progress simultaneously throughout diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending by means of integrated game offerings and cross-media expansions
- Well-established IP enables Riot to leverage current storyline and roster of characters efficiently
Timeline and Future Outlook
The contractual status of the posted positions suggests this action RPG remains in its early stages, probably several years before any public reveal or release. Preliminary research and development projects at large development houses generally demand substantial time before achieving playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such foundational projects indicates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase allows the team to test out combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of immediate deadlines 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 establish itself as a dominant force in cross-genre franchise development throughout the latter half of this decade. The hiring of Raymond Bartos to the MMO reflects Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than accelerating release timelines. Similarly, the deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has moved beyond previous failures and now prioritises sustainable, properly funded production cycles within its portfolio of ambitious titles.
