Riot Games seems to be developing a League of Legends action RPG behind closed doors, 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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles highlighting familiarity with the League of Legends IP as a desirable qualification. Neither listing formally identifies the project, but the emphasis on action gameplay mechanics and Runeterra expertise strongly indicates the title will be set within the League universe. The discovery comes as Riot keeps broadening 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 Emerges
The two contract postings discovered on Riot’s careers page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with deep expertise of action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is building something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting indicates the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than refining an established base.
Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting a CG animator experienced 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 create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain years away from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The hiring strategy indicates the studio is assembling a focused though modest, core team to prototype and validate fundamental gameplay mechanics.
- Action Game Designer role focuses on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator brings stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What Job Postings Show
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating 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 indicates the studio is designing sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, possibly intended for single-player or co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.
The specification details outlined in the listings reveal a systematic, process-driven production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance suggests Riot prioritises user experience and feedback—qualities essential to contemporary action role-playing games. This hiring strategy indicates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.
- Deep expertise in action and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat sensation and player feedback given priority over mechanical balance
- AI systems development suggests likely single-player or cooperative focus
- Unreal chosen as primary technical development engine
- Early prototyping stage suggests years before commercial release
Expanding the League of Legends World
Riot Games has consistently positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot intends 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 secondary games that explore different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is especially significant given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the extended-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul 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 designed to serve different market segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest expansion of the League franchise beyond its MOBA origins.
| 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 position listings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has upheld complete silence regarding an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page indicate the project remains in foundational development stages, indicating it could be years distant from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer typically signals the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This careful tempo allows Riot to create solid combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a practical strategy given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s contribution in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in creating compelling interactive experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than centralising operations at a sole headquarters, Riot demonstrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its portfolio. The company’s track record with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, technically proficient offering whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG might not arrive until 2027 or beyond, based on completion targets and Riot’s internal priorities.
What Gamers Should Be Prepared For
Should the ARPG be finished, players can expect a solo or multiplayer cooperative action experience set within the expansive universe of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and beloved champions. The emphasis on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot intends to provide visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of narrative-driven action titles and those seeking a different flavour of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, presenting an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has characterised the franchise from its launch.
