Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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—indicate an early-stage project is taking shape, 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 situated in the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main 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 must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI 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 systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. 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 serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning 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, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents 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 sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
