Just three weeks after celebrating its official 1.0 launch, Riot Games announced devastating news for 2XKO fans. The League of Legends fighting game spinoff is downsizing its development team by approximately 80 employees—nearly half the total staff. Here’s what happened and what it means for the game’s future.
The Official Statement: What Went Wrong
Executive producer Tom Cannon delivered the difficult news in an official statement on February 9, 2026. His explanation boils down to one critical issue: player engagement fell short of expectations.
Cannon’s Key Quote: “As we expanded from PC to console, we saw consistent trends in how players were engaging with 2XKO. The game has resonated with a passionate core audience, but overall momentum hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size long term.”
Translation? 2XKO attracted dedicated fans, but not enough players overall to justify the current development team size.
The Numbers Behind the Layoffs
Riot told media outlets that approximately 80 roles are being eliminated—representing just under half the entire 2XKO development team. However, the actual total remains unclear since affected employees can apply for other positions within Riot Games.
Timeline of Events:
- January 20, 2026 – 2XKO launches Version 1.0 after exiting early access
- Less than 3 weeks later – Riot announces major team downsizing
- February 9, 2026 – Official statement released confirming layoffs
This incredibly short window between launch and layoffs suggests Riot saw immediate red flags in player engagement metrics.
Why Did 2XKO Struggle?
Several factors likely contributed to 2XKO’s underwhelming performance:
Development Timeline Issues: The game spent nearly 10 years in development. First announced in 2019, rumours of its existence dated back to Riot’s acquisition of Radiant Entertainment in 2016. After a decade-long wait, the final product needed to deliver exceptional results—and apparently didn’t.
Monetization Problems: Community feedback highlighted aggressive pricing. Average skin prices reportedly hit $30 CAD, with premium Mythic skins costing $40. Currency bundles didn’t align with skin costs, forcing players to overpay or buy multiple bundles. Even dedicated players felt the value proposition didn’t match competitors like Fortnite.
Small Roster Complaints: Players consistently complained about the limited character roster at launch. With downsizing confirmed, roster expansion will likely slow down—the exact opposite of what the community wants.
No Steam Release: 2XKO isn’t available on Steam, making player count data impossible to track publicly. This limited visibility may have hurt discoverability and growth.
What Happens Next for 2XKO
Despite the layoffs, Riot insists 2XKO continues development with a “smaller, focused team.”
Confirmed Plans:
- 2026 Competitive Series remains unchanged – Riot commits to supporting tournament organizers and the FGC (Fighting Game Community)
- Key improvements coming based on community feedback
- More details arriving soon on the updated development roadmap
EVO 2026 Appearance: Interestingly, 2XKO secured a spot in EVO’s 2026 lineup before the layoffs were announced. This suggests Riot still believes in the game’s competitive potential despite player engagement issues.
Support for Affected Employees
Cannon emphasized Riot’s commitment to supporting laid-off developers:
Employee Support Package:
- Opportunities to apply for other positions within Riot Games
- Minimum 6 months of notice pay and severance for those who can’t find internal roles
- Recognition that affected employees “poured years of creativity, care, and belief into this game”
However, former producer Patrick Miller contradicted this rosy picture, claiming on Bluesky he received only 30 minutes’ notice after working on 2XKO for 10 years total (12 years at Riot overall).
Part of a Larger Pattern at Riot
This downsizing continues a troubling trend at Riot Games:
- 2024 – Riot closed the Riot Forge program and laid off 530 employees
- October 2024 – Additional layoffs followed as Riot “refocused” on fewer high-impact projects
- February 2026 – 2XKO team cut nearly in half
CEO Dylan Jadeja previously stated Riot had made “a number of big bets” since 2019 that weren’t paying off adequately. 2XKO apparently fell into that category.
Leave a Reply