Riot Games 2XKO layoffs: what Riot announced in the official update
On February 9, 2026, Riot Games announced a reduction in the 2XKO team size, citing that player engagement following the console launch did not reach levels necessary to support a large team long-term. Executive producer Tom Cannon stated that while the game has a passionate core audience, the move is intended to ensure a sustainable path forward. The leaner team will focus on key player-requested improvements. Riot’s 2026 Competitive Series remains unchanged, and impacted employees are being offered redeployment opportunities or at least six months of severance and pay.
Why Riot Games is downsizing the 2XKO development team
The downsizing is attributed to underwhelming momentum and engagement benchmarks. Although 2XKO was a highly downloaded free-to-play title upon its January 2026 console debut, it failed to maintain the growth and retention Riot expected. The decision was framed as a business necessity for sustainability rather than a critique of the game’s quality or mechanics. Observers point to a small initial roster of 11 characters, launch bugs, or the monetization model as potential factors for the rapid dip in initial player numbers.
How many 2XKO developers were affected by the layoffs
Approximately 80 roles were eliminated, representing about half of the game’s global development team. These cutbacks occurred across design, engineering, and art departments. The layoffs were announced on February 9, 2026, just three weeks after the game’s version 1.0 and Season 1 launch on January 20. Impacted staff have been given the opportunity to apply for other positions within Riot.
Tom Cannon 2XKO statement explained: “overall momentum” and player engagement
Tom Cannon explained that “overall momentum”—referring to active player counts, session frequency, and progression—was not growing fast enough to justify the original team size. While the game resonated with a niche audience, it lacked the newcomer growth required for a large-scale operation. Cannon emphasized that the reduction is a strategic shift to focus on high-impact features rather than a sign that the project is being abandoned.
2XKO release timeline: Project L renamed to 2XKO and the January 2026 launch
Originally announced in 2019 as “Project L,” the game was rebranded as 2XKO in early 2024. Following a PC early access period in October 2025, the game officially reached version 1.0 and launched on PC and consoles on January 20, 2026. The launch included cross-platform play between PC (via the Riot client), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The Season 1 debut on January 19 introduced a new champion to the roster.
What “downsizing” means for 2XKO updates and future content
Downsizing shifts the development focus toward stabilizing the core game, fixing bugs, and delivering requested features. While the 2026 roadmap was reduced from five seasons to three, Riot still plans to release five new champions throughout the year. To manage the workload with a smaller crew, Riot introduced “Weekend Warmup” updates every Thursday to consolidate balance changes, skins, and announcements into a single weekly cadence.
2XKO roadmap after layoffs: what a smaller dev team will prioritize
The leaner team will prioritize five new champion releases in 2026, starting with Caitlyn. Other priorities include the “Weekend Warmup” weekly update format and maintaining the 2026 Competitive Series. The team will also focus on quality-of-life improvements and critical bug fixes, such as addressing network latency and game-crashing issues, rather than branching into new secondary projects like RPG systems.
Will 2XKO still get new characters and roster expansions
Yes, Riot remains committed to adding five new champions in 2026, bringing the total roster to 16. Caitlyn was added on January 20 as the 12th character. To accommodate the reduction to three seasons, Riot will release multiple characters in some seasons. There is currently no indication that any planned character releases have been cancelled, though the development cadence for each will be carefully managed by the smaller team.
2XKO balance patches and live-service support after team reductions
Live-service support will continue through the “Weekend Warmup” schedule, with patch notes and content drops occurring every Thursday. Riot intends to prioritize balance and stability, as seen with early hotfixes for launch-day crashes. While a smaller team may face longer turnaround times, the focus remains on essential updates, champion balancing, and supporting tournament rulesets.
2XKO 2026 Competitive Series plans after Riot Games job cuts
The 2026 Competitive Series remains unchanged, with 20 planned tournaments proceeding as scheduled. Riot continues to partner with community organizers, and major events like Frosty Faustings XVIII (Jan 29–Feb 1, 2026) will serve as the year’s first major. The competitive circuit will still include one major and three challenger events per season, maintaining the prize pools and production commitments previously announced.
Is 2XKO shutting down? Long-term support concerns and Riot’s messaging
Riot Games has explicitly stated that 2XKO is not being shut down. Executive producer Tom Cannon emphasized that the team is being reshaped to provide a more sustainable path forward rather than signaling the end of the project. There are no plans to “pull the plug,” and the remaining team will continue delivering updates and executing the 2026 competitive roadmap. While layoffs often cause concern, Riot’s decision to offer redeployment opportunities to impacted staff and their commitment to future content suggest the game remains a live title under Riot’s care.
Riot Games layoffs and restructuring: how 2XKO fits the bigger strategy shift
The downsizing of the 2XKO team is part of a broader strategic shift at Riot Games to focus on fewer, high-impact projects. This follows previous moves such as the 2024 closure of the Riot Forge publishing label and the cutting of 530 positions company-wide. Riot’s leadership, including CEO Dylan Jadeja, has indicated a move away from “big bets” that do not hit engagement targets to concentrate on core franchises like League of Legends and VALORANT. As an experimental title, 2XKO’s team reduction aligns with this “quality over quantity” philosophy.
Riot Forge shutdown and other Riot cost-cutting moves fans are comparing
Fans have drawn parallels between the 2XKO layoffs and the June 2023 shutdown of Riot Forge, which ended partnerships with indie developers. These moves, along with the October 2024 layoffs, suggest that Riot is prioritizing its most successful titles while trimming ambitious side projects. Observers note that any project not immediately achieving breakout success is currently under heavy scrutiny as Riot seeks to meet specific financial and engagement goals.
Fighting game community reaction to the 2XKO dev team downsizing
The fighting game community has responded with a mix of disappointment and concern, particularly regarding the timing of the layoffs just weeks after launch. While some players and developers expressed frustration over the abruptness of the cuts, many others praised the core gameplay and design of 2XKO. The general sentiment remains wary; players are closely watching to see if Riot follows through on its promises of continued support and competitive events.
Where to play 2XKO now: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S availability
2XKO is available as a free-to-play title on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. On PC, the game is accessed exclusively through the Riot Games launcher rather than Steam. The game supports cross-platform play, allowing PC and console players to compete against each other. All current content, including the Season 1 champion and Battle Pass, is available across these platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Riot Games lay off members of the 2XKO development team?
Riot cited insufficient long-term player momentum as the reason. After 2XKO launched on consoles in January 2026, player engagement did not sustain a level Riot expected. Executive Producer Tom Cannon wrote that while 2XKO “resonated with a passionate core audience,” overall growth wasn’t high enough to justify the existing team size. In short, they downsized because the game’s active player numbers and momentum were lower than needed for such a large studio. - How many 2XKO developers were affected by the layoffs?
Reports indicate about 80 employees were let go, which is roughly half of the 2XKO team. Riot itself described it as cutting the team size roughly in half. These cuts came just weeks after the full game release in January 2026. - Will the 2XKO Competitive Series (tournaments) still happen after the layoffs?
Yes. Riot explicitly stated the 2026 Competitive Series plans are unchanged. The first major tournament, Frosty Faustings XVIII (Jan 29–Feb 1, 2026), is going ahead as planned. Riot will continue to support the competitive scene, including seasonals and events, despite the studio downsizing. - Does downsizing mean 2XKO is shutting down or will stop getting updates?
No. Riot has made it clear that 2XKO is not being shut down. They said the team is being restructured for a sustainable path, not scrapped. Updates and support will continue; Riot plans weekly content patches (the new “Weekend Warmup” schedule) and has promised future content like new characters. The cuts simply mean fewer developers handling those updates. - Will 2XKO still receive new characters and content?
Yes. The 2026 roadmap commits to adding five new champions over the year (including Caitlyn in Season 1). Although the number of seasons was reduced (to three in 2026), the total amount of content (new characters, skins, balance changes) is still planned. Roster expansions and cosmetic content will continue as previously announced. - How will the layoffs affect 2XKO’s patch and balance update schedule?
Riot has implemented a weekly update cycle to streamline support. Starting late January 2026, all patches and news will drop on Thursdays in the new “Weekend Warmup” format. This suggests Riot intends to keep up regular updates and fixes, just consolidated on a set schedule. The company has already pushed emergency hotfixes (e.g. Dec 9 crash fix) and plans continued balance patches. The pace may be adjusted, but players should still expect routine updates. - Is the 2XKO game still profitable or successful? Why else would Riot cut the team?
Riot did not provide revenue numbers, but commentators note that 2XKO was relatively successful on launch day (ranking high among free games on consoles). However, Riot’s high expectations may not have been met. Essentially, Riot seems to have concluded that the rate of new players and retention wasn’t enough to support a large ongoing budget. It’s a business decision: even a moderately successful game can be downsized if it doesn’t grow quickly enough. - How does the 2XKO layoffs fit into Riot’s broader company changes?
It fits a recent trend of Riot cutting smaller projects to focus on big ones. In 2024, Riot closed the Riot Forge label and cut 530 jobs to concentrate on its main franchises. 2XKO’s reduction appears to be another step in this “fewer, bigger bets” strategy. Fans have compared it to the Riot Forge shutdown and other studio layoffs; Riot’s leadership has signaled that underperforming projects will be scaled back. - Where can I play 2XKO, and on which platforms is it available?
2XKO is free-to-play and available on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. As of its January 2026 launch, all these platforms are supported. The game is downloadable from Riot’s PC client or the console stores, and it features cross-play between PC and consoles. It is not on Steam or older consoles. - How has the fighting game community reacted to this news?
The community has had a mixed, emotional response. Many players and fans are disappointed or angry about the timing and impact on the game. Some went online to vent, e.g. one user wrote they can’t wait “for 2XKO to never be in another fighting game tournament after this year.”. Developers on 2XKO also expressed frustration (one noted being laid off after 10 years of work on the game). However, some players also emphasized they still enjoy the core game – TechRadar noted that aside from monetization gripes, “the core game seems to be fun and engaging.”. In general, fans remain cautiously hopeful but vigilant. Many see the downsizing as a setback, but they also note Riot’s assurances and plan to stick around to see how the game evolves under a smaller team.
Conclusion
The restructuring of the 2XKO team marks a transition to a smaller, more focused development crew following lower-than-expected player momentum. Despite the roughly 50% reduction in staff, Riot has committed to five new champions in 2026, weekly “Weekend Warmup” updates on Thursdays, and a full 20-tournament competitive calendar. While this reflects a broader industry trend of resource reallocation, Riot’s messaging insists that 2XKO is here to stay, with a roadmap focused on stability, balance, and core gameplay improvements.
Sources and Citations
- Riot Games – “An Update on 2XKO” (Feb 9, 2026).
https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/an-update-on-2xko - Game Developer – “Riot Games lays off roughly 80 employees from 2XKO team” (Feb 9, 2026).
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/riot-games-lays-off-roughly-80-employees-from-2xko-team - PC Gamer – Andy Chalk, “Riot lays off 2XKO developers less than three weeks after release…” (Feb 9, 2026).
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/riot-lays-off-2xko-developers-less-than-three-weeks-after-release-overall-momentum-hasnt-reached-the-level-needed-to-support-a-team-of-this-size/ - TechRadar – Rhys Wood, “Riot Games lays off roughly half of its 2XKO development team…” (Feb 10, 2026).
https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-industry/riot-games-lays-off-roughly-half-of-its-2xko-development-team-despite-the-relative-success-of-the-free-to-play-fighting-games-launch - Kotaku – Ethan Gach, “Riot’s New Fighting Game Is Already Imploding As It Lays Off 80 Developers…” (Feb 9, 2026).
https://kotaku.com/2xko-layoffs-league-legends-riot-update-2000666998 - Sheep Esports – “2XKO moves to three seasons, unveiling five new champions in 2026” (Jan 16, 2026).
https://www.sheepesports.com/en/all/articles/2xko-moves-to-three-seasons-unveiling-five-new-champions-in-2026/en - San Diego City Times – Tresean Osgood, “Riot Games announces its 2026 roadmap for 2XKO” (Jan 5, 2026).
https://sdcitytimes.com/top-stories/2026/01/05/gaming-riot-games-announces-its-2026-roadmap-for-2xko-with-video/ - VGC (Videogameschronicle) – Andy Robinson, “Riot Games says it’s ‘downsizing’ the 2XKO development team…” (Feb 9, 2026).
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/riot-games-says-its-downsizing-the-2xko-development-team-after-a-disappointing-launch/
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