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—suggest an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. 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 comes 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining 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 visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away 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 assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
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 specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase suggests considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio 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 supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important 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 speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets 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 placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an alternative to the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
