Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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 highlighting 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 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is hiring a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the visual direction 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 typically signal 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 recruitment approach indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics 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 extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems 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 advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input carry substantial weight. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player feedback given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal Engine chosen as main technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gameplay styles. By developing an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can leverage the extensive mythology and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these endeavours appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence regarding an formal reveal or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page point to the project continues in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles point out that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a practical strategy given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those pursuing a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
