Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 coming together, with both roles flagging 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 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise 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 establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight 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 acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these developments is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has committed substantial resources 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 parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s history 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 afterwards, depending on completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
