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 coming together, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions 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.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective 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 hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these advancements is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. 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 vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an formal reveal or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent 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 competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, based on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
