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 sought-after requirement. 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 arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring 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 temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers 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 defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically 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 intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling 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 particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project remains in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, depending on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the universe’s established lore and beloved champions. The focus on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, providing an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
