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 coming together, 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 clearly suggests 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description 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 recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal chosen as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time before commercial release
Expanding 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 traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong 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 involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, depending on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, offering an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
