Riot Games seems 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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles flagging 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 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates 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 early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised 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 Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight 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 successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating 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 exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive 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 development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game 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 significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an public statement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an imminent release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid 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 project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect 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 afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
