Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise clearly suggests the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot continues expanding 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 Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise 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 likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate 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 recruitment approach 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 contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests considerable time before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.
| 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 position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an public statement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, depending on completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon 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 standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
