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—suggest an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles highlighting 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 situated in the League universe. The discovery comes 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
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 unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate 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 test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different 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 and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest 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 offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an official announcement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in 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 upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
