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—indicate an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles flagging 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 clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery comes 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 Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates 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 experienced in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
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 specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games 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, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests years before market launch
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent 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 provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, contingent upon development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The spotlight on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
