Riot Games seems 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—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 beyond 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 discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase typically signal 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase suggests considerable time until commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that explore different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues 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 initial stages 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 sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, contingent upon development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
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 universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
