Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing officially names 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 arrives 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, 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 design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced 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 cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating 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 fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining 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, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest 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 |
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 launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, depending on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
