Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be situated in 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 postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise 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 cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective 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 hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems 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 suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused 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 indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness emphasised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process 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 endeavours appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust 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 involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, depending on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
