Riot Games appears 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 taking shape, 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 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish 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 committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach 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.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking 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 vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, depending on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
