Riot Games appears 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 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 strongly indicates the title will be situated in 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 Confidential Initiative Emerges
The two contract listings found on Riot’s jobs page reveal tantalising details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This indicates Riot is developing something mechanically sophisticated from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in early stages, continuously refining fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a hiring choice that hints at the artistic trajectory the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would likely help establish a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the combination of these two positions suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is building a dedicated, albeit small, core team to prototype and validate core gameplay concepts.
- Combat Game Designer role concentrates on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation expertise to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer job listing offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise 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 clearly demands developing and refining on combat systems from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings illustrate a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are required to work within a compact, nascent team where individual contributions carry substantial weight. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach indicates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG design mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- AI systems development points to potential 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 Universe
Riot Games has traditionally positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an extensive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have traditionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in development marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across different gameplay styles rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside secondary games that delve into different play mechanics. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the extensive mythology and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.
The timing of these advancements is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, bringing on Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is working towards an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s gaming environment. Rather than directly competing with one another, these projects appear created to address different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence concerning an public statement or release window. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project is still in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be several years away from launch. Industry observers experienced in game development cycles observe that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the beginning stages of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust 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 participation in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than concentrating resources at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have generated favourable results across its range of titles. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a refined, well-designed experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or later, contingent upon completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Players Should Expect
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience situated in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a fresh approach of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from the beginning.
