Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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—indicate 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 clearly suggests 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 careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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 likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions 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 focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge 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 indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Strong proficiency in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years until market launch
Broadening the League of Legends World
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production 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 created to address different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sensible approach given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes 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 finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, offering an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
