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 coming together, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing formally identifies 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 arrives 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, 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 shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining 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 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 contract roles at this early phase generally indicate 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 prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path 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 audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. 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 internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
