Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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—indicate 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 set within 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 jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced 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 likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy 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-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen 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 extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting 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 purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling 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 significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gameplay styles. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute 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 job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an official announcement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate 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 later, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
