Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting 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 set within the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening 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 reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring 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’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems 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 building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent 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 critical 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.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform
- Early prototyping phase suggests considerable time until market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in initial R&D phases, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices 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 eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
