Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 coming together, 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 clearly suggests the title will be set within 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 postings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems 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 artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct 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 specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone 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 undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these developments 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 major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases 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 sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, depending on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, offering an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
