Riot Games appears 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—suggest an early-stage project is coming together, 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 clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal 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 particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics 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 artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic 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 invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design 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 extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying 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 intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The pacing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute 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 vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid 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 involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
