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 flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing formally identifies 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 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 Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing 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, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This two-pronged strategy 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 player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute 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 provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project is still in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
