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 clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening 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 postings found on Riot’s jobs 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 action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help establish a unified visual approach 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 committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage 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 vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as primary technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently 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 disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these developments is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an official announcement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project continues in foundational development stages, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this facility 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 experience developing 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 might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide 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 particularly appealing, providing an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
