Riot Games has reduced its 2XKO team by roughly half—approximately 80 developers—after determining that the game’s player momentum has not yet met expectations to sustain a full-scale workforce.
The announcement comes just over a month after 2XKO’s full launch on January 20, marking the first major fighting game spin-off from the League of Legends franchise. While the title has performed well with its dedicated fanbase, Riot’s executive producer acknowledged that broader adoption has fallen short of projections needed to support the current team size.
In a statement, the company emphasized that this restructuring is not a reflection of individual performance but a strategic adjustment to prioritize long-term viability. The smaller team will now focus on refining gameplay, addressing player feedback, and planning future updates. The 2026 Competitive Series, however, remains unaffected by the changes.
2XKO’s launch was widely anticipated, earning a spot on early wishlists for its bold mechanics and League crossover appeal. However, the downsizing underscores the challenges of scaling a niche genre like tag fighters, where player engagement often hinges on a passionate but smaller audience.
This move follows a wave of industry-wide layoffs in early 2026, including cuts at Meta, Ubisoft, and Amazon. For Riot, the decision signals a shift toward sustainability over rapid expansion, with plans to share further details on upcoming improvements soon.
