Riot Games seems 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 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract listings found 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 ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an existing foundation.
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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away 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 test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight 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 hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions 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 hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sensible approach given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour 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 location rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. 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 demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
