Riot Games Quietly Developing League of Legends Action RPG

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—indicate an early-stage project is coming together, with both roles flagging 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 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 discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s secret project. The Game Combat Designer role specifically seeks someone with extensive knowledge of action games and action RPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, intuitive mechanics, and responsive artificial intelligence systems. This indicates Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, utilising Unreal Engine as the development platform. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on fundamental mechanics rather than polishing an existing foundation.

Alongside the design position, Riot is recruiting 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 likely help create a unified visual approach for the action RPG. Whilst temporary positions at this developmental stage typically signal projects remain some distance from launch, the pairing of these roles suggests Riot has invested significant effort to exploring what an action-focused League experience might entail. The recruitment approach indicates the studio is building 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 brings stylized character animation expertise to project
• Initial research and development suggests considerable time remains before possible launch
• Unreal Engine chosen as primary development platform for title

Combat Mechanics and Technical Specifications

What the Vacancies Indicate

The Combat Game Designer job listing provides crucial insight into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in action-based games and ARPGs, with particular emphasis on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role clearly demands building and iterating on combat systems 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 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 presented within the listings paint a picture of a methodical, systems-focused production strategy. Candidates are expected to work within a small, early-stage team where personal input hold significant importance. The focus on “combat feel” rather than merely mechanical balance indicates Riot places value on player sensation and responsiveness—qualities essential to modern action RPGs. This recruitment approach demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather dedicating resources to prototyping and validating fundamental gameplay mechanics before expanding operations further.

• Deep expertise in action games and ARPG game mechanics needed
• Combat feel and player responsiveness prioritised over balance mechanics
• AI systems development points to potential single-player or cooperative emphasis
• Unreal chosen as main development engine
• Early-stage prototyping phase indicates years until commercial release

Expanding 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 game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The disclosure of a secret action RPG in production marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot intends to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than depending exclusively on League’s competitive ecosystem. This approach reflects successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a flagship title coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gameplay styles. By producing an ARPG situated in Runeterra, Riot can tap into the rich lore and established character base whilst appealing to players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.

The timing of these advancements is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG initiative, the company has poured significant investment in the long-gestating League of Legends MMO, hiring Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to expedite the production process following a significant reset in 2024. This dual-track approach suggests Riot is chasing an expansive vision for Runeterra’s digital ecosystem. Rather than competing directly with one another, these projects appear designed to serve different market segments—the MMO targeting persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players pursuing story-driven, action-focused adventures. Together, they represent Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise outside its MOBA roots.

Project Timeline and Outlook

Whilst the job postings offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has preserved absolute silence concerning an public statement or release window. The contract positions advertised on the company’s careers page suggest the project remains in foundational development stages, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles observe that hiring for core positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the early phases of production rather than an upcoming release. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems ahead of growing the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.

The Shanghai studio’s participation in this project reflects Riot’s global development infrastructure and the studio’s demonstrated proficiency in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By situating the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a single headquarters, Riot showcases its dedication to decentralised development approaches that have yielded positive results across its portfolio. The company’s experience developing League of Legends suggests gamers will receive a polished, mechanically sound experience whenever the ARPG finally releases. However, with the MMO also demanding significant resources and attention, the ARPG could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, contingent upon development milestones and the company’s strategic priorities.

What Participants Should Anticipate

Should the ARPG be finished, players can anticipate a single-player or co-operative action experience placed in the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the world’s existing lore and fan-favourite champions. The spotlight on character design and combat mechanics suggests Riot aims to deliver intense, mechanically demanding gameplay rather than a straightforward dungeon crawler. Fans of story-focused action titles and those pursuing a alternative take of League engagement may consider the ARPG particularly appealing, offering an alternative to the competitive multiplayer focus that has shaped the franchise since its inception.