Riot Games appears 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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, 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 clearly suggests the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery comes 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 listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles 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 test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems 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 indicates the studio is building 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 paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward 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 feel and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone 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 secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production 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 projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, depending on development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
