Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 sought-after requirement. 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 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal 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 action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than refining 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 artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions 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 exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling 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 brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games 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 emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development points to potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years before market launch
Expanding the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that delve into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these initiatives appear created to address different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion of the League franchise beyond its MOBA origins.
| 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 reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, based on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship 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 seeking a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, providing an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
