Riot Games seems 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—suggest an early-stage project is coming together, 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 situated in the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot continues expanding the franchise outside of 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 listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining 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 visual direction 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 early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating 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/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing 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 systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles 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 secondary games that explore different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, 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 major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect 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 later, depending on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on character design and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
