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 desirable qualification. Neither listing officially names 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 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, 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 recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal chosen as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in foundational development stages, indicating 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 commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, depending on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on character design and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
