Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 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 postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory 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 some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources 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 dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project is still in initial R&D phases, suggesting 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 typically signals the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing 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 proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, based on project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
