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—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 strongly indicates the title will be situated in 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort 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 test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands 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 focus on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven 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 indicates Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates 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 games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates considerable time before market launch
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres 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 spin-offs that explore different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these developments is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating 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 chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly 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 compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest 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 position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, depending on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
