Riot Games seems 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 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 set within 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal 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 ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing 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 fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles 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 focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus 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 presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates 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 and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal chosen as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, depending on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
