Riot Games appears 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—indicate an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, 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 likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests 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 outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
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 announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. 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 serves players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise beyond its MOBA origins.
| 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising 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 point to the project continues in foundational development stages, indicating it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, depending on project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard 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 characterised the franchise from its launch.
