Riot Games appears 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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles highlighting 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 strongly indicates 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, 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 likely help establish 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 committed meaningful resources 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-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles 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 focus 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 specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage 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 extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres 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 spin-offs that delve into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. 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 Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The spotlight on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
