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—suggest an early-stage project is taking shape, 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 arrives as Riot continues expanding 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 Emerges
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai 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 developing engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting 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 recruitment decision 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 developmental stage generally indicate projects remain years away 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 dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with specific focus on creating engaging combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create 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 purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before scaling the project further.
- Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
- Development of AI systems points to likely single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the centrepiece of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive online play.
The scheduling of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment 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 two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different player demographics—the MMO serving persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute Riot’s most ambitious growth 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 |
Schedule and Future Development
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an official announcement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles note that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo 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 involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s worldwide development capabilities and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have yielded positive results across its range of titles. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, 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 set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on character design 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 seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an contrast with the pvp-focused focus that has defined the franchise from its launch.
