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 taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs 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 ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This indicates 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 fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to exploring 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-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development engine
- Early prototyping stage indicates considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these advancements is notably important 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, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an public statement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note 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 create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By placing the ARPG project at this facility rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or later, depending on completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those looking for a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
