Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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—indicate an early-stage project is taking shape, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. 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 comes 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 listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ distinctive art style, this animator would likely help create a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to investigating what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer job listing provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting 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 or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates 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 and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems suggests potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping stage suggests considerable time before market launch
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The scheduling of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an official announcement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing 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 may not materialise until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on stylised character work and combat feel suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG notably attractive, providing an contrast with the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
