Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, based on 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 formally identifies the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting 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 probably help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create 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, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems suggests likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves 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 position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in foundational development stages, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market 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 placing the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, based on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
