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 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 Confidential Initiative Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s secret project. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting engaging combat experience, responsive controls, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description shows the team is still in initial phases, continuously refining core systems rather than refining 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 establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions 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 prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D suggests years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on creating engaging combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused development approach. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for 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.
- Strong proficiency in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness prioritised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
- Unreal chosen as primary development platform
- Early prototyping phase indicates considerable time before commercial release
Growing the League of Legends Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an extensive 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 development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across multiple genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach mirrors successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside supplementary titles that venture into different gaming experiences. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over multiplayer competition.
The pacing of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s broader franchise expansion efforts. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources 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 dual-track approach suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear intended to cater to different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG serves players looking for story-driven, action-focused adventures. 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 |
Timeframe and Growth Prospects
Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an official announcement or availability date. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project is still in early-stage research and development, implying it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers familiar with game development cycles observe that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sensible approach given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than concentrating resources at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests players can expect a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon development milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG especially compelling, providing an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
