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 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 comes as Riot keeps broadening the franchise beyond 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil 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 specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting 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 cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal 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 building 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 considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles 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 suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates years before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project continues 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 core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases 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 sensible approach 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 demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location 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 refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
