Riot Games appears 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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles highlighting 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 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 Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a unified visual approach 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 invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings reveal 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 simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
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 gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage 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 particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. 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 substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an public statement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
