Riot Games has announced that active development for the fighting game 2XKO will end in December 2026. This decision comes less than a year after the full release of the game.

The development team had previously undergone a significant downsizing due to the game losing momentum. It was stated that the servers will remain open and the game will continue to be free to play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X platforms.

Development Process and Content Updates

Aside from a final bug fix patch, no new champions, eras, or major content updates are planned for the game. Riot Games explained that the decision to discontinue 2XKO stems from unsustainable player retention rates.

The studio announced it will refund all KO Points and Starter Edition purchases made before August 20th. Additionally, all champions will be unlocked for free, and cosmetic content will be bundled into a single package for $39.99.

Lux and Samira will be added to the game in September and October. After this date, the game will enter a maintenance phase where ranked mode and seasonal content will be removed.

Riot Games’ Strategic Changes

Riot Games has made similar strategic changes in the past, not only with 2XKO, but also with projects like Riot Forge, Legends of Runeterra’s competitive structure, and Hytale. The company highlights the challenges of reaching the necessary player base for the sustainability of free-to-play and live service games.

Riot acknowledges that 2XKO caters to a niche audience but struggles to maintain its overall player base. The company says it will return to its research and development labs to experiment with new types in the future.

This process Riot Games is experiencing with projects outside its core games highlights the difficulty of the company’s diversification efforts. The future of Riot’s League of Legends MMO project is eagerly awaited by players.

What do you think is the main reason for these difficulties Riot Games is experiencing with projects outside its main games?