Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 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 strongly indicates the title will be set within 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise 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 technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on 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 artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action 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, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy 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 feel and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project is still in foundational development stages, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates 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 audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
