Riot cuts half of 2XKO development team

• Half of Riot Games’ 2XKO development team has been laid off.
• The cuts affect the pair-based fighting game 2XKO and its ongoing development.
• Riot says it's reducing staff on the project; the game’s timeline and scope may change.

What happened

Riot Games announced it is cutting jobs on the development team for 2XKO, its pair-based fighting game. According to the announcement, roughly half of the team working on 2XKO will be let go.

The studio did not provide additional public details about the specific roles affected or the precise headcount beyond saying that the layoffs impact about half of the project team.

Why it matters

Laying off half of a development team typically slows production, changes priorities, and can reduce the feature set or scope of a game. For players and stakeholders, that can mean delays, a smaller launch plan, or extended periods of quiet while the remaining team reorganizes.

Riot’s move also signals shifting resource priorities within the company. Even without a full roadmap disclosure, such cuts often reflect internal decisions about which projects to accelerate and which to scale back.

Impact on 2XKO and the community

2XKO is described as a pair-based fighting game; the development change raises immediate questions about the title’s release window and post-launch support. Fans should expect updates from Riot about the project’s status, though timing for those updates was not specified.

Community reaction to layoffs in game development tends to focus on job security and long-term viability for the title. Remaining developers may shift to maintenance or a reduced roadmap while leadership reassesses goals and timelines.

What to watch next

Look for official communications from Riot Games clarifying the project timeline, scope changes, or a revised release plan for 2XKO. Statements from the studio or interviews with project leads would provide clearer insight into how the cuts will affect gameplay features and platform support.

In the short term, players and industry watchers should expect a quieter development cycle and possible delays. Long-term outcomes will depend on whether Riot reinvests in the project or reallocates remaining assets to other initiatives.