Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 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 arrives 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics 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 suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests 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 fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling 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 development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment 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 two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates 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 gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, based on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
