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 clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating 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 core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis 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, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and 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 small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests considerable time until market launch
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series 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 based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in foundational development stages, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on character design and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
