A Shocking Turn for a Highly Anticipated Fighting Game: Riot Games Slashes 2XKO Team by Nearly Half!
It's a tough day in the gaming world, especially for those eagerly awaiting the full potential of a brand-new fighting game. Riot Games, the powerhouse behind the immensely popular League of Legends, has made a significant decision, laying off approximately 80 employees who were dedicated to the development of their fighting game, 2XKO. This move dramatically reshapes the team working on this ambitious project.
But here's where it gets controversial... The news, shared in a candid blog post by 2XKO's executive producer, Tom Cannon, revealed that the company is "reducing the size of the 2XKO team." A spokesperson confirmed to Game Developer that this amounts to about 80 individuals, which is roughly half of the game's entire global development staff. This is a substantial reduction, and it's bound to raise questions about the game's future and the studio's strategy.
Cannon, in his statement, pointed towards sluggish player engagement as a primary reason for this difficult decision. He explained that as the game expanded from its PC roots to console platforms, the team observed consistent patterns in how players were interacting with 2XKO. While he acknowledged that the game has indeed "resonated with a passionate core audience," the overall momentum simply "hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size long term." This raises a crucial question: Is a game's success solely measured by its broad momentum, or can a dedicated, smaller community sustain a title?
And this is the part most people miss... 2XKO has been a labor of love for an exceptionally long time. Back in 2016, Riot Games acquired Radiant Entertainment, a studio founded by Tom and Tony Cannon, which was already known for its work in the fighting game genre. For a full decade, this team has been meticulously iterating and refining the game that has now become 2XKO. That's a massive investment of time and resources, making this recent layoff even more striking.
Despite the significant team reduction, Riot Games has emphasized that they are not abandoning 2XKO. Cannon stated that with a "smaller, focused team," the developer will continue to concentrate on making "key improvements" to the game. Furthermore, Riot plans to maintain its partnerships with fighting game community (FGC) tournament organizers and local communities, aiming to give 2XKO a "more sustainable path forward."
For those impacted by these layoffs, Riot Games is offering opportunities to apply for other positions within the company. For individuals who don't find new roles, the company is providing a severance package that includes a minimum of 6 months' pay.
This situation certainly sparks debate. Is it fair to drastically cut a team working on a passion project that has been in development for so long, simply because it hasn't achieved massive mainstream traction yet? Or is this a pragmatic business decision to ensure the game's survival, even if in a scaled-down form? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!
