Riot Games appears 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 coming together, 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 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 Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil 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 compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows 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 hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles 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 assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing 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 hallmark 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 distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely 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 carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years before market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently 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 notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-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 pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. 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 serves players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in initial R&D phases, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative 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 site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive 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, depending on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, providing an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
