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—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 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory 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 contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away 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 building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining 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 indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of 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 simply mechanical balance indicates 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 core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates years before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production 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 delve into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The pacing of these advancements 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-gestating 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 chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for story-driven, action-focused adventures. 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an public statement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, based on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
