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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, 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 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 Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates 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 recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles 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 prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates years before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres 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 gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head 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 represent Riot’s boldest 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 vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project continues in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional 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 contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
