Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, according to 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 highlighting 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 strongly indicates the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics 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 particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal selected as main development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset 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 intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.
| 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 position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in initial R&D phases, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust 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 participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, depending on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
