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 strongly indicates the title will be situated in 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 Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction 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 early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems 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 sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates considerable time until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends World
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 development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO targeting 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 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions listed on 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 point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This deliberate approach 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 participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, based on development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
