Riot Games appears 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 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 clearly suggests the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s careers 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 compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 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 focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
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-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating 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 or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to 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 scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG design mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests considerable time before commercial release
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 development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various 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 supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these developments is notably important given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s most aggressive 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an official announcement or launch timeframe. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in early-stage research and development, indicating 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 generally indicates the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this endeavour reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot illustrates its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive results across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and the company’s strategic priorities.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on visual character craftsmanship and gameplay feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, offering an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise since its inception.
