Riot Games appears to be developing a League of Legends action RPG in secret, 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 sought-after requirement. Neither listing formally identifies 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 comes 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 Secret Project Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring a CG animator experienced in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this developmental stage generally indicate 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 assembling a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on user experience and feedback—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player responsiveness given priority over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time before commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gaming experiences. By developing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The scheduling of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development 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 going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the vacancy announcements reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in foundational development stages, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot illustrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect 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 beyond, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the vibrant world of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive multiplayer focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
