In a surprising turn of events, Riot Games has decided to scale down its 2XKO development team, impacting around 80 employees. This decision stems from the realization that the free-to-play fighting game has not achieved the momentum necessary to sustain such a large team over time, as explained by Tom Cannon, the executive producer of 2XKO.
In a detailed blog post, Cannon elaborated on the situation, stating that the game's engagement levels have not reached a point that justifies maintaining a sizable workforce. A spokesperson for Riot Games further emphasized that nearly half of the global development team for 2XKO will be affected by these layoffs, which raises questions about the future of this project.
Cannon noted, "As we transitioned from PC to console, we observed consistent trends regarding player engagement with 2XKO. While the game has found a dedicated and passionate core audience, it has not gained the overall traction required to support a team of this scale in the long run."
He went on to clarify, "This decision is not a reflection on any individual employee's performance nor does it signal the end of our journey with the game. Instead, we are realigning our team to forge a more sustainable path for the future of 2XKO."
To assist those affected by this decision, Riot has promised to facilitate opportunities within the company whenever possible and will provide a minimum of six months of notice along with severance packages to those laid off.
Initially launched in early access for PC in October 2025 and with a console release shortly following on January 20, 2026, 2XKO has been under development since 2019. It was first introduced to the public under the working title, Project L.
This situation raises significant questions about the viability of ambitious gaming projects in a competitive market. How do you feel about the challenges developers face when balancing team size and game performance? Do you think Riot made the right call here, or should they have pursued other options? Share your thoughts in the comments!
