Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 desirable qualification. 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 comes 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 intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating 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 emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long 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 undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
