Riot Games seems 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 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 strongly indicates 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
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 specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort 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 fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace 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 participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, depending on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
