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—suggest 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 arrives 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 postings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an established base.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring 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’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain some distance 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to test and refine fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylized character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Specifications
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective 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 defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities critical to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
- Combat feel and player feedback emphasised over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage 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 extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across different gameplay styles rather than depending exclusively on League’s esports infrastructure. 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 creating an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can leverage the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these initiatives is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. 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 significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these endeavours appear created to address different player demographics—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, indicating it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot demonstrates its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate 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, contingent upon project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG reach completion, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing 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 straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise from the beginning.
