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—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 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 Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced 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 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 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 concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark 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 distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on 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 investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift 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 established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
