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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting 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 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise 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 establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems 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 suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development engine
- Early prototyping stage suggests years until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to establish robust 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 contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
