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—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 Comes to Light
The two contract listings found on Riot’s jobs page unveil intriguing details about the Shanghai studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with deep expertise of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on developing engaging combat experience, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is building something technically complex from scratch, using Unreal Engine as the development platform. The job description indicates the team is still in early stages, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an existing foundation.
Alongside the designer role, Riot is hiring 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 contract roles at this early phase typically signal projects remain years away 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.
- Combat Game Designer role focuses on action-RPG systems development
- CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
- Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before possible launch
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Design and Technical Requirements
What the Job Listings Reveal
The Combat Game Designer posting offers valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show extensive knowledge in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a hallmark of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development indicates the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively competitive gameplay.
The technical requirements outlined in the listings illustrate a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are required to work within a small, early-stage team where individual contributions hold significant importance. The emphasis on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics before scaling the project further.
- Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics required
- Combat feel and player responsiveness emphasised over mechanical balance
- Development of AI systems indicates potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
- Unreal chosen as primary development platform
- Early prototyping stage indicates years before market launch
Broadening the League of Legends Franchise
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s gaming ambitions have conventionally centred on the original MOBA title itself. The revelation of a secret action RPG in development marks a major pivot in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach reflects established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside supplementary titles that explore different gaming experiences. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over competitive multiplayer.
The timing of these initiatives is notably important given Riot’s wide-ranging franchise expansion strategy. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has committed substantial resources in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a substantial restructuring in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than going head-to-head with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG caters to players looking for narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they represent Riot’s boldest expansion 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 |
Timeline and Development Outlook
Whilst the position listings reveal tantalising evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence concerning an public statement or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page suggest the project continues in early-stage research and development, implying it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles note that hiring for foundational roles such as Combat Game Designer generally indicates the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems prior to scaling the team further, a sound method given the demanding market of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this initiative reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s proven expertise in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than centralising operations at a unified central hub, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have produced successful outcomes across its portfolio. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound 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 resource allocation decisions.
What Participants Should Anticipate
Should the ARPG achieve completion, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the rich tapestry of Runeterra, drawing upon the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on visual character craftsmanship and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a standard dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a fresh approach of League engagement may discover the ARPG notably attractive, providing an alternative to the competitive online multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.
