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 coming together, with both roles flagging 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 situated in 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 Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate projects remain some distance 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 building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to 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.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.
| 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 offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes 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 consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
