Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates considerable time before market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The pacing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they embody Riot’s most aggressive expansion of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.
| 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, depending on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
