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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing formally identifies the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening the franchise outside of 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction 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 some distance 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate 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 Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different 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 and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gameplay styles. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing 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 indicate the project remains in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on character design and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
