Riot Games Reduces 2XKO Team Size, 80 Developers Affected
Fighting game team downsized less than a month after official launch
Unexpected Downsizing After Launch#
Riot Games has confirmed that it's reducing the size of its 2XKO development team, with approximately 80 employees affected by the restructuring. The news comes less than a month after the League of Legends spin-off fighting game officially launched in early May 2025, from GamesIndustry sources.
According to Riot's announcement, the company is adjusting the team size to better align with the game's ongoing development needs. While 2XKO had been in development for several years and generated significant buzz in the fighting game community, the timing of these layoffs has raised questions about the game's post-launch performance.
What This Means for 2XKO#
Riot hasn't indicated that development on 2XKO will cease, but rather that the team is being "right-sized" for continued support. This follows a broader trend in the gaming industry where companies have been making difficult staffing decisions throughout 2024 and into 2025.
The affected employees are reportedly being offered severance packages and job placement assistance. Riot has emphasized its commitment to supporting those impacted by the reduction.
Community Impact#
2XKO represents Riot's entry into the competitive fighting game space, bringing League of Legends champions to a 2v2 tag-team format. The game had built considerable anticipation among both League fans and the broader FGC (Fighting Game Community).
What are your thoughts on this news? Have you been playing 2XKO since launch?
