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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. 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 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 Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics 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 extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different 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 and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected 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 places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive expansion of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.
| 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 job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot showcases 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, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based 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 since its inception.
