Riot Games Quietly Developing League of Legends Action RPG

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—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 clearly suggests the title will be situated in 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 Secret Project Comes to Light

The two contract listings discovered on Riot’s jobs page unveil tantalising details about the Shanghai-based studio’s mysterious undertaking. The Combat Game Designer role actively looks for someone with extensive knowledge of action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting compelling combat feel, responsive controls, and advanced AI systems. This suggests Riot is developing something technically complex from the ground up, using Unreal Engine as the core technology. The posting shows the team is still in initial phases, actively iterating on core systems rather than polishing an established base.

Alongside the designer role, Riot is recruiting a CG animator with expertise in stylised character work—a recruitment decision that hints at the visual direction the project may take. Given League of Legends’ unique visual aesthetic, this animator would probably 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 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 concentrates on action-RPG systems development
• CG animator contributes stylised character animation knowledge to project
• Early-stage R&D indicates years remain before potential release
• Unreal Engine selected as main development platform for title

Combat Design and Technical Specifications

What the Vacancies Indicate

The Combat Game Designer posting provides valuable perspective into the project’s mechanical ambitions. Candidates need to show deep expertise in action games and ARPGs, with specific focus on crafting satisfying combat feel—a defining characteristic of successful titles in the genre. The role explicitly requires building and iterating on combat mechanics from scratch using Unreal Engine, suggesting Riot plans to create something distinctly different from League of Legends’ turn-based MOBA mechanics. The emphasis on AI development suggests the studio is building advanced enemy AI systems, potentially for single-player and co-operative experiences rather than purely competitive gameplay.

The technical requirements presented within the listings paint a picture of a systematic, process-driven development approach. Candidates are expected to work within a compact, nascent 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 hiring strategy demonstrates the Shanghai studio is avoiding hasty moves toward production but rather investing time in testing and refining core gameplay loops before expanding operations further.

• Extensive knowledge in action and ARPG design mechanics required
• Combat sensation and player responsiveness given priority over balance mechanics
• AI systems development indicates likely single-player or co-op focus
• Unreal Engine selected as main technical development engine
• Early prototyping stage indicates years until market launch

Broadening the League of Legends Franchise

Riot Games has long positioned League of Legends as the cornerstone of an sprawling multimedia franchise, yet the company’s game development goals have historically centred on the original MOBA title itself. The announcement of a secret action RPG in development marks a significant shift in strategy, suggesting Riot plans to diversify its gaming portfolio across various genres rather than relying solely on League’s esports infrastructure. This approach echoes successful franchises like The Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy, where a main entry coexists alongside spin-offs that delve into different gameplay styles. By creating an ARPG set within Runeterra, Riot can tap into the deep storytelling and established character base whilst attracting players who prefer solo or cooperative gameplay over multiplayer competition.

The pacing of these developments is particularly noteworthy given Riot’s extensive franchise growth plans. Alongside the action RPG project, the company has invested heavily in the long-in-development League of Legends MMO, recruiting Raymond Bartos from World of Warcraft to accelerate production following a significant reset in 2024. This two-pronged strategy suggests Riot is pursuing an ambitious vision for Runeterra’s interactive landscape. Rather than competing directly with one another, these endeavours appear designed to serve different audience segments—the MMO catering to persistent-world enthusiasts whilst the ARPG appeals to players seeking compelling story-based action gameplay. Together, they constitute Riot’s most ambitious growth of the League franchise past its MOBA foundations.

Timeline and Development Outlook

Whilst the vacancy announcements offer intriguing evidence of the ARPG’s existence, Riot Games has maintained strict silence about an formal reveal or launch timeframe. The contract positions listed on the company’s careers page indicate the project continues in early-stage research and development, suggesting it could be a considerable time from launch. Industry observers versed in game development cycles point out that hiring for essential positions such as Combat Game Designer commonly represents the initial stages of production rather than an near-term launch. This measured pace allows Riot to develop strong combat mechanics and gameplay systems before expanding the team further, a sound method given the intense competition of action RPGs.

The Shanghai studio’s involvement in this endeavour reflects Riot’s international development framework and the studio’s established track record in crafting engaging gameplay experiences. By placing the ARPG project at this site rather than consolidating efforts at a sole headquarters, Riot showcases its support for distributed team structures that have yielded positive 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 could not launch until 2027 or afterwards, based on project milestones and Riot’s internal priorities.

What Gamers Should Be Prepared For

Should the ARPG be finished, players can look forward to a single-player or co-operative action experience set within the vibrant world of Runeterra, utilising the universe’s established lore and iconic champions. The emphasis on stylised character work and gameplay feel suggests Riot seeks to create visceral, skill-based gameplay rather than a conventional dungeon crawler. Fans of character-rich action titles and those seeking a alternative take of League engagement may find the ARPG notably attractive, presenting an departure from the pvp-focused focus that has characterised the franchise since its inception.