Riot Games seems 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 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 strongly indicates the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 jobs page reveal 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 engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems 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 probably help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying 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, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive 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 development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project is still in initial R&D phases, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
