Riot Games Quietly Develops League of Legends Action RPG

Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in confidentiality, based on newly uncovered job listings published on the company’s recruitment page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a CG animator—suggest an early-phase R&D project is underway, 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 fighting mechanics from the ground up using Unreal Engine. The discovery comes as Riot concurrently pushes its long-problematic League of Legends MMO into full development, signalling an ambitious expansion of the franchise throughout multiple gaming genres.

Shanghai Studio Hidden Venture Emerges

The two job listings found on Riot’s careers 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 specifically emphasises developing and refining combat systems from scratch, with candidates expected to demonstrate deep knowledge of action games and ARPGs. The position underscores the significance of combat feel, game mechanics and AI—core elements that would shape how players engage in any action-focused game. Meanwhile, the animation specialist position seeks experts in experience in stylised character work, suggesting Riot intends to maintain visual consistency with League’s signature visual style.

Whilst neither vacancy listing explicitly identifies the project, both positions emphasise League of Legends IP knowledge as a added advantage, strongly suggesting 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 official announcement or release. This finding reinforces Riot’s overarching plan to expand the League brand away from its main MOBA game, following years of successful expansions into animation projects, trading card games and mobile games. The concurrent creation of both an MMO and an action RPG illustrates the company’s commitment to investigating various game types within the Runeterra universe.

• Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
• CG animator role emphasises stylised character animation expertise
• Project uses Unreal Engine for game development
• Contract positions indicate early-stage research and development phase presently underway

What the Job Postings Disclose

Fighting Mechanics at the Heart

The Combat Game Designer posting represents the cornerstone of Riot’s action RPG aspirations, with the position explicitly tasked with building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch. The role specification stresses candidates must possess deep expertise in action games and action RPGs, with specific emphasis on the player experience of combat, the core systems that drive engagement, and the AI systems that control enemy actions. This degree of detail indicates Riot is not simply applying established combat systems but rather creating a custom system tailored to deliver a unique action experience in the League universe.

The focus on combat mechanics and feel indicates that Riot understands the essential value of engaging, responsive gameplay in the action RPG genre. By recruiting specialists who know how to develop immersive combat systems, the company is demonstrating its commitment to establish itself within a saturated market of action-oriented titles. The requirement for Unreal Engine proficiency also illustrates that Riot is employing established industry tools to achieve its vision, allowing the team to focus creative energy on what sets the game apart rather than developing custom tools from scratch.

Runeterra as the Probable Backdrop

Although neither position announcement explicitly identifies the project, both postings highlight knowledge of League of Legends IP as a preferred requirement, placing Runeterra squarely in the frame as the likely backdrop. This strategic positioning allows Riot to tap into the established narrative, character roster and world creation that has evolved throughout multiple media formats, including the acclaimed animated series Arcane and the collectible card game Legends of Runeterra. Leveraging established IP reduces the creative burden of world-building whilst offering audiences with familiar components that deepen engagement and investment in the narrative.

The choice to set the action RPG in Runeterra also aligns with Riot’s wider franchise strategy of creating linked gameplay 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 creates opportunities for cross-promotion and shared narrative threads that reward engaged fans. This strategy enhances the worth of the company’s creative efforts whilst positioning Runeterra as a comprehensive entertainment destination comparable 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 constitutes a major broadening of the franchise’s aspirations beyond its beginnings as a competitive team-based online game. The company has been progressively expanding the League universe through varied entertainment formats and gaming offerings, from the critically acclaimed Arcane animation to the Legends of Runeterra collectible card game. This multi-pronged strategy converts League from a standalone game property into a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem, positioning Runeterra as a setting deserving 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 cherished game world.

The scheduling of this development effort proves particularly noteworthy given Riot’s existing commitments 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 several significant launches simultaneously. This dual-project approach mirrors successful strategies 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 generating excitement for each individual release. The Shanghai studio’s involvement suggests the company is distributing development resources strategically across its global operations.

• Multiple League projects in development at the same time throughout different studios and types
• Runeterra setting expanding via interconnected interactive experiences and multimedia adaptations
• Established IP allows Riot to make use of established lore and character lineups efficiently

Development Timeline and Prospects

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. Early-stage research and development initiatives at large development houses generally demand substantial time before achieving functional prototypes, let alone market readiness. Riot’s decision to recruit for such preliminary work demonstrates genuine commitment to investigating the ARPG genre within the League universe, though restraint will be necessary from enthusiastic players. The Shanghai studio’s participation in this foundational phase enables the team to test out gameplay mechanics, combat design and visual direction without the burden of immediate deadlines or audience demands.

Looking ahead, the intersection of multiple League projects creates 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 genre-spanning franchise development across the latter half of this decade. The recruitment of Raymond Bartos to the MMO demonstrates Riot’s genuine commitment in delivering quality experiences rather than pushing products out quickly. Similarly, the careful, measured approach to the ARPG’s development implies the company has addressed prior shortcomings and now prioritises sustainable, well-resourced production cycles across its portfolio of major projects.