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 flagging 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 clearly suggests the title will be situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers 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 action RPGs, with specific focus on developing compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the design position, 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 probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has committed meaningful resources to investigating 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.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting 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 hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat mechanics 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 suggests the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat sensation and player feedback prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that venture into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest expansion of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.
| 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the beginning stages of production rather than an imminent release. 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 involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this facility rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes 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 consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, depending on development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and combat feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, presenting an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
