Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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—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 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 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing 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 core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles 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 test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details 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 carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates considerable time until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.
| 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 job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
