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—indicate 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 comes 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
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’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance 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 test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus 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 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 simply 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 investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates years until market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long 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 revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these developments is especially significant 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, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, depending on completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
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 rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
