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 flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names 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 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs 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 crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away 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-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining 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 emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and 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 expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems suggests likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling 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 significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in initial R&D phases, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
