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 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 set within 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description indicates 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 hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic 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 investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What These Listings Demonstrate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics 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 indicates the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings reveal a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates considerable time before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres 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 venture into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these developments is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development 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 directly competing with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion 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 vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project remains in foundational development stages, implying it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning 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 competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or beyond, based on project 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 set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The focus on character design and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG notably attractive, providing an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
