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 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 postings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai 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 developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, 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 initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting 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’ distinctive art style, 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- 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 extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging 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 plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 maintained strict silence concerning an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
