Riot Games seems 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—suggest 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 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise 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 likely help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Combat 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 possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time until commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally 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 competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these projects appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project remains in initial R&D phases, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. 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 yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, depending on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, providing an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
