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—indicate an early-stage project is taking shape, 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 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 Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining 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 focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The pacing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, 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 substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, based on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
