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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. 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 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 listings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics 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 artistic trajectory 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 typically signal projects remain years away 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 assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain 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 need to show deep expertise in action-based 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 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 advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. 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.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase suggests considerable time before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology 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 RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, based on completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
