Riot Games Announces Layoffs for 2XKO Development Team Post-Launch

Riot Games Realigns Development Strategy for 2XKO Amid Post-Launch Assessment

Development Team Reduction for 2XKO

Only a few weeks after the global launch of their 2v2 fighting title, 2XKO, Riot Games has initiated a substantial reduction in its development workforce. This decision sees nearly half of the original team members facing layoffs.

Rationale Behind the Staff Changes

Tom Cannon, the executive producer for 2XKO, articulated the company's reasoning in a recent statement. He explained that despite the game resonating strongly with a dedicated fan base, its overall market traction has not reached the necessary levels to sustain a development team of its initial size in the long term. This assessment reflects the challenges and evolving dynamics within the competitive gaming landscape as the company expanded its titles from PC to console platforms.

Future Focus and Continued Support for 2XKO

Cannon further noted that a more streamlined, focused team would now concentrate on making crucial enhancements to the game, incorporating feedback already received from the community. Riot Games confirmed to PC Gamer that roughly 80 positions are being eliminated. However, individuals affected by these changes will be given opportunities to explore other roles within the company. Importantly, the company reassured stakeholders that the planned 2026 Competitive Series for 2XKO will proceed as scheduled.

Broader Company Restructuring

These recent layoffs at the 2XKO team are understood to be a continuation of a wider "refocusing" initiative by Riot Games. This organizational shift began approximately two years ago with the closure of its Riot Forge program and a significant round of layoffs affecting 530 employees. At that time, CEO Dylan Jadeja emphasized that the company intended to concentrate its resources on a smaller number of high-impact projects, moving away from past ventures that had not yielded sufficient returns. Additional layoffs occurred in October 2024, although co-founder Marc Merrill indicated that the League of Legends development team was expected to grow for future projects.

2XKO's Development Journey and Recent Launch

2XKO, which had been in development for nearly a decade, was first publicly announced in 2019, with its origins tracing back to Riot's acquisition of Radiant Entertainment in 2016. After a brief closed beta phase, the game entered early access in October 2025 and reached its 1.0 release on January 20, just twenty days prior to the layoff announcement. While specific player metrics are not publicly available due to the game not being on Steam, the decision to reduce the team shortly after launch suggests a need for operational adjustments within the project.