Riot Games seems 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 situated in the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot continues expanding 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 discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. 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, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests 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 core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting 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 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
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-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating 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 emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating 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 working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The focus on stylised character work 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 different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
