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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. 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 comes 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 postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources 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 focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain 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 posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different 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 technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to 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.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long 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 revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.
| 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 job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in foundational development stages, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, depending on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
