Riot Games seems 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—suggest 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 clearly suggests 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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s careers page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, 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 create 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 hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a focused though modest, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers 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 hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The focus on AI development suggests the studio is designing advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as main development engine
- Early prototyping phase indicates years before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling 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 major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst reaching players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they embody Riot’s boldest expansion of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.
| 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 vacancy announcements provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence regarding an public statement or release window. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This deliberate approach allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s proven expertise in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG eventually emerges. However, with the MMO also consuming considerable resources and effort, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or beyond, depending on development milestones and Riot’s resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the expansive universe of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design and combat feel suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
