Riot Games seems 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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles highlighting 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 arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise 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 early phase generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles 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 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 stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying 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, indicating 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, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. 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 prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development engine
- Early prototyping phase indicates years before market launch
Growing 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 conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple 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 secondary games that delve into different gameplay styles. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these advancements is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach 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 endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, based on development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat 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 alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
