Riot Games seems 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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing formally identifies 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 continues expanding 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 Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort 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 concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development engine
- Early prototyping phase indicates years before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in initial R&D phases, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This measured pace allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, based on development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from the beginning.
