Riot Games has made a significant restructuring within its 2XKO* development team, laying off approximately 80 employees—roughly half of the project’s workforce. The move comes as the League of Legends-inspired fighting game has struggled to achieve the player engagement and competitive traction anticipated at launch. Despite the reduction, Riot has emphasized that 2XKO will not be discontinued and remains committed to its future, though the team will now prioritize targeted improvements over rapid expansion.
The decision reflects broader challenges in sustaining a niche fighting game in a crowded market, even with the backing of a major publisher. While 2XKO attracted official and community-driven events ahead of its release, player numbers and sustained interest have fallen short of the benchmarks needed to justify a full-scale development team. The studio has framed the layoffs as a necessary step to ensure the game’s long-term health, with affected employees receiving six months of notice pay and severance, alongside opportunities to transition into other roles within Riot.
- Team reduction: Approximately 80 employees laid off—half of the 2XKO development team.
- Game status: No plans to discontinue 2XKO; focus shifts to core improvements and community feedback.
- Support commitments: 2026 Competitive Series and partnerships with tournament organizers remain intact.
- Employee assistance: Six months of notice pay and severance for affected staff, with internal transfer options.
The restructuring signals a pivot from aggressive growth to a more measured approach, one that acknowledges the realities of launching a fighting game in an era where player retention and competitive depth are increasingly difficult to secure. For Riot, the decision underscores the risks of betting on specialized genres outside its core League of Legends franchise, even with a dedicated team and pre-launch hype.
While the fighting game community may see this as a setback, Riot’s assurances suggest 2XKO* will continue evolving—though now with a smaller, more agile team focused on addressing the gaps that have hindered its initial success. The question remains whether the game can regain momentum with a leaner structure, or if this marks the beginning of a longer-term struggle for relevance in a genre dominated by established titles.
