Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action role-playing game in confidentiality, according to newly uncovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Systems Designer and another for a CG animator—indicate 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 officially announced the project, the postings indicate a compact team is developing combat systems from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an significant growth of the franchise across multiple gaming genres.
Shanghai Studio’s Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s recruitment page reveal that the Shanghai studio is hiring for an unannounced action title set within the League of Legends universe. The Combat Designer role particularly highlights developing and refining combat systems from the ground up, with candidates required to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position highlights the importance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-oriented title. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot aims to preserve visual coherence with League’s distinctive art direction.
Whilst neither position advertisement explicitly identifies the project, both positions highlight League of Legends IP familiarity as a bonus qualification, firmly positioning Runeterra as the expected backdrop. The temporary structure of these roles typically indicates initial production phases, meaning the action RPG could still be a considerable period from formal declaration or release. This discovery underscores Riot’s broader strategy to diversify the League brand beyond its core MOBA game, subsequent to prosperous ventures into animated series, card games and mobile games. The simultaneous development of both an MMO and an action role-playing game demonstrates the firm’s resolve to examining different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator position highlights stylized character animation expertise
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game development
- Contract positions indicate early-stage R&D phase currently underway
What the Job Postings Demonstrate
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer role constitutes the core pillar of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with developing and refining combat systems from the ground up. The job description stresses applicants require strong proficiency in action games and action RPGs, with particular focus on how combat feels to players, 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 developing a bespoke system tailored to deliver a unique action experience within the League universe.
The focus on combat feel and mechanics indicates that Riot understands the vital significance of satisfying, responsive gameplay in the action-based RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who are skilled at creating engaging combat systems, the company is indicating its plan to establish itself within a crowded marketplace of action-focused titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine knowledge further demonstrates that Riot is leveraging proven technology standards to accomplish its objectives, 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 position announcement explicitly names the project, both postings flag knowledge of 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 worldbuilding that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the award-winning animation Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property minimises the creative workload of world-building whilst providing players with recognisable elements that enhance immersion and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG in Runeterra also supports 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 generates possibilities for cross-promotional activities and interconnected storylines that satisfy dedicated players. This strategy enhances the value of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known franchises like The Elder Scrolls or The Witcher.
Broadening the League Universe
Riot Games’ reported development of 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 systematically broadening the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the highly praised Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra card game. This multifaceted approach transforms 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 integrates seamlessly into this expansion strategy, offering players an entirely different way to engage with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this project initiative proves especially noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations 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 showing remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors proven approaches employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By developing games across different genres in parallel, Riot can maintain player engagement through diverse gameplay whilst building anticipation for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement indicates 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 development at the same time throughout diverse studios and categories
- Runeterra world growing by means of integrated game offerings and media adaptations
- Well-established IP enables Riot to make use of established storyline and character lineups successfully
Development Schedule and Outlook
The contract nature 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 initiatives at major studios generally demand substantial time before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such foundational projects demonstrates real dedication to exploring 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 experiment with gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or audience demands.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects generates an intriguing 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 across 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 deliberate, understated approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has learned from past missteps and now emphasises sustainable, properly funded production cycles across its portfolio of significant franchises.
