Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 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 strongly indicates 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal 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 engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, 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’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively 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 small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project is still in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
