Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 taking shape, 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 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates 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 experienced 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 generally indicate 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate 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 explicitly requires building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for 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 expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main technical development engine
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these developments 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, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they embody Riot’s most aggressive expansion 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, based on development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite 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 narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
