Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names 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 arrives 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 discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort 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 prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying 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, indicating Riot plans to create 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, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as main technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in foundational development stages, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, depending on development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create 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 discover the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
