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 highlighting 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 comes 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away 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 building a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based 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, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven 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 simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests years until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an official announcement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in initial R&D phases, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, contingent upon development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
