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—indicate 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 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 arrives as Riot keeps broadening the franchise beyond 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, 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’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain years away 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying 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, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase suggests years until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated 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 scheduling of these advancements 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 long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in initial R&D phases, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong 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 endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. 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 requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, depending on development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
