Riot co-founder doesn’t think 2XKO was ‘a mistake’ but perhaps a tough sell: ‘You’re not just competing against games, you’re competing against everything’
Riot Games is shutting down development on 2XKO, its tag-fighting game, after failing to build sustainable momentum following a troubled launch. The studio announced the shutdown in August, with all future development ceasing after this year and refunds being issued to players who made in-game purchases.
The fighting game struggled to attract both new and experienced players despite years of development. The project’s challenges became evident with a shaky launch followed by significant layoffs just three weeks later. Riot co-founder Marc Merrill addressed the situation at PAX West, discussing the game’s failure while reflecting on development mistakes. Rather than calling 2XKO ‘a mistake’ outright, Merrill acknowledged the difficulty of launching in a crowded competitive landscape, noting that developers compete not just against other games but against all forms of entertainment.
The shutdown represents another high-profile failure for Riot beyond its flagship League of Legends franchise, demonstrating the persistent challenges of maintaining and growing live-service games. The decision to refund all players reflects the company’s acknowledgment that 2XKO could not achieve the player engagement and revenue necessary to justify continued investment.