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 highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing officially names the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting indicates the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help create a cohesive aesthetic 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 invested significant effort 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 core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate 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 clearly demands developing and refining 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 building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements presented within the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities critical to 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 fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback prioritised over balance mechanics
- AI systems development indicates likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping stage indicates years until commercial release
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across multiple genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that venture into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The timing of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. 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 expedite the production process following a major overhaul in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear intended to cater to different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they embody Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the job postings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an public statement or availability date. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in foundational development stages, suggesting 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 generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an near-term launch. This deliberate approach allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this initiative reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures 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 may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, depending on project milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an departure from the competitive online multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.
