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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles flagging familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a sought-after requirement. Neither listing officially names 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 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 listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the artistic trajectory 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 temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining 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 suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal selected as main development engine
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these developments is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in initial R&D phases, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its commitment to distributed development practices that have produced successful outcomes across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
