Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, based on recently discovered job listings posted to 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—indicate an early-phase R&D project is underway, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Whilst the company has not formally revealed the project, the postings indicate a small team is developing fighting mechanics from the beginning using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot simultaneously pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into active production, indicating an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout various game categories.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two job listings found 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 Designer role particularly highlights building and iterating on combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to show extensive expertise of action titles and role-playing games. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, mechanics and artificial intelligence—core elements that would define the player experience in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the CG animator vacancy seeks experts in background in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to preserve visual coherence with League’s signature visual style.
Whilst neither job posting explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP understanding as a added advantage, clearly establishing Runeterra as the likely setting. The temporary structure of these roles usually points to initial production phases, meaning the action RPG could still be years away from formal declaration or release. This revelation reinforces Riot’s wider approach to broaden the League franchise outside its primary MOBA game, after periods of successful expansions into animation projects, card games and handheld applications. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action role-playing game illustrates the company’s commitment to investigating different categories within the Runeterra universe.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action role-playing game mechanics development
- CG animator role emphasises stylized character animation proficiency
- Project utilises Unreal Engine for game creation
- Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase currently underway
What the Position Advertisements Disclose
Battle Systems at the Heart
The Action Game Combat Designer posting constitutes the foundation of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the role directly charged with building and iterating on combat systems from the ground up. The job description emphasises applicants require deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular focus on the player experience of combat, the core systems that foster player engagement, and the artificial intelligence systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather developing a bespoke system designed to provide a unique action experience in the League universe.
The priority placed on combat mechanics and feel demonstrates that Riot acknowledges the vital significance of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By bringing on specialists who know how to develop engaging combat systems, the company is signalling its intention to compete seriously within a crowded marketplace of action-focused titles. The need for Unreal Engine proficiency additionally shows that Riot is employing industry-standard technology to achieve its vision, permitting the developers to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than building proprietary tools from scratch.
Runeterra as the Plausible Backdrop
Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings flag knowledge of League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification, placing Runeterra firmly in focus as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, cast of characters and worldbuilding that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the trading card game Legends of Runeterra. Using existing intellectual property reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and commitment to the narrative.
The decision to set the action RPG within Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider strategic approach of creating linked gameplay experiences throughout various gaming genres. By tying the new project to the same universe as the MMO, the card game and the animated series, Riot creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy maximises the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst establishing Runeterra as a complete entertainment hub comparable to well-known 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 major broadening of the franchise’s ambitions 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 critically acclaimed Arcane animated series to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a single-game franchise into a expansive entertainment platform, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving exploration throughout multiple genres and platforms. The action RPG fits naturally into this growth plan, offering players an completely new way to interact with the beloved intellectual property.
The release window of this development effort proves particularly noteworthy given Riot’s current obligations to other League-connected projects. With the MMO still in active production following its 2024 reset and the appointment of former World of Warcraft lead Raymond Bartos, the company is displaying remarkable confidence in the franchise’s capacity to support multiple major releases simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors proven approaches employed by leading gaming studios with sprawling universes. By developing games across varied genres in parallel, Riot can sustain player interest through varied experiences 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 |
- Several League titles in development at the same time across diverse studios and genres
- Runeterra world extending through linked game offerings and media adaptations
- Existing IP enables Riot to make use of established storyline and character rosters successfully
Development Timeline and Prospects
The contract nature of the posted positions suggests this action RPG 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 considerable duration before reaching playable prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s willingness to hire for such preliminary work indicates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though patience will be required from eager fans. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase allows the team to experiment with combat systems, mechanics and artistic direction without the burden of tight schedules or public expectations.
Looking ahead, the alignment of multiple League projects establishes an intriguing development landscape for Riot Games. Should both the MMO and action RPG develop as planned, the publisher could position itself as a dominant force in multi-genre franchise development during the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s serious investment in delivering quality experiences rather than rushing products to market. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development suggests the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now focuses on sustainable, well-resourced production cycles throughout its portfolio of ambitious titles.
