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 taking shape, 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 clearly suggests the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery comes 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing 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 action RPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced 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 likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised 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 Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems 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 sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage suggests years until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.
| 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 vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project is still 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 essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
