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 taking shape, 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 strongly indicates the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. 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 experienced 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 unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this early phase generally indicate 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 assembling a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates 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 selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show 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 explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics 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 building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially 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 small, early-stage team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating 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
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage suggests considerable time until market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different play mechanics. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in initial R&D phases, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
