Riot Games seems 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—suggest 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 arrives 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 found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based 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 indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles 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 sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—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.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting 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 initiatives appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive 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 job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. 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 may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
