Riot Games lays off 2XKO developers, but promises to stick with the game until the end.

The 2XKO development team was reduced in size after 'failing to meet the required metrics'.

Just weeks after its official launch, Riot Games' fighting game has faced significant changes. Executive producer Tom Cannon announced on Monday, February 9, 2026, that the 2XKO development team is being scaled down in pursuit of a more sustainable model, while affirming that the global competition system will remain fully in place.

This is mixed news for the fighting game community, having just experienced the first Major of the year and now witnessing the North American publisher report disappointing results. With the message, 'After much discussion and consideration, we are downsizing the 2XKO team,' Riot Games, through its executive producer, officially confirmed the personnel cuts affecting their teams.

2XKO was officially released on January 20th on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, featuring a roster of 12 champions including Caitlyn, Jinx, Warwick, Illaoi, and more.

Despite the excitement generated by Season 1 and subsequent testing phases since August 2025, commercial momentum appears to be slowing. According to Tom Cannon, while there's a solid core player base, the overall appeal isn't quite there yet: 'The game has resonated with a passionate core player base, but the overall momentum hasn't reached the level needed to sustain a team of this size in the long term,' he explained.

This announcement echoes the difficulties of last summer, when the game's co-developer, Demiurge Studios, experienced a wave of layoffs, even before 2XKO was in beta. In mid-January, Riot narrowed its ambitions, reducing its 2026 plan from five seasons to three, possibly in preparation for the layoffs, while reaffirming its goal of releasing five new champions.

However, Riot Games refused to consider this a step backward. "This is not a judgment on individual Riot employees or a signal that the journey is over," the statement said. To demonstrate its long-term commitment, the publisher confirmed that it is maintaining the schedule for the 2XKO Competitive Series tournaments that were announced at the end of January.

Tom Cannon added that Riot will 'continue its commitment to partnering with tournament organizers and local communities,' noting that 'their focus will continue to be on supporting events and organizers that have been driving the fighting game community (FGC)'. Notably, the global tournament will stop at all three EVO events this year—Japan, Las Vegas, and France—where 2XKO will compete alongside other major titles in the same event, a shift from Riot's usual more tightly controlled approach.