Riot Games appears 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—indicate 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate 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 explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development indicates the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially 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 merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple 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 venture into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these advancements is especially significant 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 accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an official announcement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in foundational development stages, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, depending on development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The focus on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, offering an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
