Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 sought-after requirement. Neither listing formally identifies the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be set within 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising 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 particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining 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 emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate 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 simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early prototyping phase suggests considerable time until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment 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 chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project is still in foundational development stages, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create 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 discover the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
