Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, according to newly discovered job listings posted to the company’s careers page. Two contract positions at Riot’s Shanghai studio—one for a Combat Game Designer and another for a CG animator—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing formally identifies the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding the franchise outside of its original MOBA roots, having recently recruited Raymond Bartos, a former World of Warcraft lead producer, to oversee its long-delayed League MMO.
Shanghai Studio’s Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive expansion of the League franchise beyond its MOBA origins.
| Project Type | Current Status |
|---|---|
| League of Legends ARPG | Early-stage R&D at Shanghai studio |
| League of Legends MMO | Active production with new leadership |
| Original League of Legends MOBA | Ongoing development and seasonal updates |
| Runeterra IP Expansion | Multiple projects across different genres |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an official announcement or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
