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 situated in the League universe. The discovery arrives 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 Secret Project Comes to Light
The two contract postings found on Riot’s careers page reveal intriguing details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with particular emphasis on developing compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from scratch, utilising Unreal Engine as the core technology. The job description shows 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’ distinctive art style, this animator would probably help establish a cohesive aesthetic for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage generally indicate projects remain some distance 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 core gameplay concepts.
- Action Game Designer role concentrates on action/ARPG mechanics development
- CG animator contributes stylized character animation expertise to project
- Initial research and development indicates considerable time remains before potential release
- Unreal Engine selected as primary development platform for title
Combat Mechanics and Technical Requirements
What the Vacancies Indicate
The Combat Game Designer posting offers crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of acclaimed games in the genre. The role explicitly requires developing and refining on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, indicating Riot intends to develop something fundamentally distinct from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building sophisticated enemy behaviour systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than exclusively 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 individual contributions hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than simply mechanical balance indicates Riot prioritises player sensation and responsiveness—qualities vital for contemporary action role-playing games. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is not rushing to production but rather dedicating resources to testing and refining fundamental gameplay mechanics 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 indicates potential single-player or co-op emphasis
- Unreal Engine selected as primary technical development platform
- Early-stage prototyping phase suggests years until market launch
Growing the League of Legends World
Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the foundation of an expansive multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a undisclosed action RPG project in production marks a notable change in strategy, suggesting Riot aims to diversify its game catalogue across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach mirrors established series like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different play mechanics. By creating an ARPG based in Runeterra, Riot can capitalise on the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer single-player or co-operative experiences over competitive multiplayer.
The pacing of these advancements is especially significant given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action role-playing game project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to speed up development following a major overhaul in 2024. This parallel development path suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than directly competing with one another, these initiatives appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing narrative-driven action experiences. Together, they constitute 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 |
Project Timeline and Outlook
Whilst the position listings provide compelling evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence about an public statement or availability date. The contract positions posted to the company’s careers page point to the project remains in foundational development stages, suggesting 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 commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an imminent release. This careful tempo allows Riot to establish robust combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the competitive landscape of action RPGs.
The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in developing immersive gameplay. By positioning the ARPG project at this location rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot illustrates its commitment to distributed development practices that have generated favourable results across its product lineup. The company’s history with League of Legends suggests audiences should anticipate a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG ultimately launches. However, with the MMO also requiring substantial investment and focus, the ARPG may not materialise until 2027 or later, based on development milestones 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 placed in the rich tapestry of Runeterra, leveraging the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The focus on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those looking for a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG especially compelling, providing an contrast with the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise from its launch.
