Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting 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 strongly indicates 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 Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, 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 likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, depending on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
