Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, based on 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 comes as Riot keeps broadening the franchise beyond 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems 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, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, based on project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
