Riot Games has initiated a major restructuring of its development team for the League of Legends-themed fighting game 2XKO, reducing roughly half of the staff responsible for the project just a few weeks after its full launch on PC and consoles on January 20, 2026. The announcement, made public on February 9, 2026, reflects the company’s belief that the game’s current momentum isn’t sufficient to sustain such a large development team long term, despite positive reactions from parts of its player base.
According to Riot’s executive producer Tom Cannon, the decision to downsize was not taken lightly. Although 2XKO has connected with an enthusiastic core audience, overall engagement and performance metrics have not met internal expectations. As a result, Riot will move forward with a smaller, more focused team dedicated to addressing key improvements requested by players.
The layoffs affect approximately 80 developers worldwide, many of whom have been with the game since its long development cycle. Some impacted staff members, including veteran contributors, shared that they received notice of their departure with minimal lead time. Riot has stated it will provide severance packages, including at least six months’ pay or an opportunity to relocate within the company where possible.
Despite the reduction in workforce, Riot insists that 2XKO is not being cancelled. Cannon reiterated that the game will continue to receive support, and plans for the 2026 Competitive Series remain unchanged as Riot honors its commitments to tournament organizers and local esports communities. The remaining team will concentrate on refining the game and stabilizing its long-term prospects.
Though 2XKO has drawn praise from a dedicated group of players for its tag-team fighting mechanics and connection to the League of Legends universe, the restructuring underscores how even well-backed titles can struggle to maintain momentum shortly after release. The challenge of balancing team size with player adoption has sparked conversations across the gaming community about development strategy and sustainability in live-service titles.