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 coming together, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. 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 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 careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal 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 assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge 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 Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing 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 systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time until market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone 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 development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG set within 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 multiplayer.
The scheduling of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an public statement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
