Riot Games ends active development on its fighting game 2XKO
In short: After a decade of development and a high-profile launch, Riot Games announced it will cease active development on 2XKO by the end of 2026. While the servers will remain live and all characters will be unlocked, the move follows a sharp contraction in staff and a struggle for momentum.
Initially announced in 2019 as Project L, 2XKO is a 2v2 tag-team fighting game set in the League of Legends universe. It launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in January 2026, following a period of early access on PC that began in October 2025. The game features a complex tag system where players switch between a 'Point' and an 'Assist' character, utilizing mechanics like pushblocking, parries, and a 'Fuse' system to customize team synergies.
The game's trajectory shifted rapidly following its launch. In February 2026, Riot Games eliminated approximately 80 roles—roughly half of the global development staff—citing player engagement that failed to meet expectations. This decision was notable given the game's lengthy ten-year development cycle. Despite the staff reductions, Riot maintained its 2026 Competitive Series, which included 20 sanctioned events across five seasons, and initially received strong critical acclaim, including a 100% recommendation rate on OpenCritic.
The final announcement on August 20, 2026, confirmed that active development would conclude by the end of that year. In a move aimed at preserving the player experience, Riot committed to keeping servers online and unlocking all characters for everyone. Furthermore, the company pledged to refund all in-game purchases made prior to the announcement. The game's lifecycle serves as a stark example of the challenges in sustaining momentum for new entries in the fighting game genre.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2XKO
- Also: Wikidata — 2XKO · CC0
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