Six months after a significant reduction in its development team, Riot Games has made the difficult decision to cease active development of its fighting game, 2XKO. This announcement comes on the heels of a previous layoff of approximately 80 developers, which was attributed to the game’s inability to generate the necessary momentum for long-term support.
Monitoring the Game’s Progress
In a recent update, Riot Games shared insights into their ongoing evaluation of 2XKO. The studio noted that while the game attracted a considerable number of players and fostered a vibrant community, it ultimately fell short of achieving a sustainable player base. “We’ve been monitoring 2XKO’s trajectory closely, and what we’ve seen is painting a clear, consistent picture,” the company stated. Despite a dedicated following among diehard tag fighter enthusiasts, the broader fighting game community struggled to find compelling reasons to remain engaged with the title.
Riot’s aspiration for 2XKO was to create a game that resonated deeply with the fighting game community, allowing players to enjoy it with friends. However, the studio recognized that despite their efforts to address both technical and business challenges, the desired level of engagement was not materializing. “Even within the genre, diehard tag fighter players loved 2XKO, but most other fighting game players struggled to find reasons to stick with the game,” they explained.
A Journey of Development
The journey of 2XKO has been a long one, with speculation about Riot’s entry into the fighting game arena dating back to 2017. Official confirmation came in 2019, and after two years of development and numerous iterations, the game was finally released in January 2026. However, the absence of 2XKO on platforms like Steam has left player metrics somewhat elusive, and the significant downsizing of the development team shortly after launch hinted at unmet expectations.
Initially, Riot expressed a commitment to the game, stating in February that they were “fully committed” to its future. However, the recent announcement indicates a shift in strategy as the studio has now recognized the need to conclude active development. “We saw no meaningful, sustained change in 2XKO’s trajectory; only a fraction of what it would take to trend toward sustainability,” they concluded.
Looking Ahead
While the news of 2XKO’s untimely end is disappointing for many, Riot is striving to provide a smooth transition for its players. The announcement includes a roadmap for the remaining updates, and the studio is actively exploring additional ways to support players, tournament organizers, competitors, and creators who have consistently engaged with the fighting game community through 2XKO.