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 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 comes as Riot continues expanding 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 postings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive 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 development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. 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 caters to players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, depending on development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
