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 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 strongly indicates 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems suggests likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG 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 substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions posted to 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 familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed 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, based on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
