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—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 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 arrives as Riot keeps broadening 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 Confidential Initiative 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 Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise 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 the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling 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 stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems 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 designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply 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 not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as primary technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates years until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot 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 main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating 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 intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an public statement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results 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 requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design 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 seeking a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
