Digital Phablet – Recent reports suggest that 2XKO, Riot Games’ free-to-play fighting game, may be facing a potential decline following the company’s decision to lay off half of its staff due to underwhelming results.
Tom Cannon, the Executive Producer of 2XKO, issued a statement saying, “I want to take a moment to provide an important update on 2XKO. This is a tough message to deliver, but transparency is important as we discuss what’s changing and why.”
He continued, “After thorough discussions and reflection, we are downsizing the 2XKO team,” adding that “While the game has cultivated a dedicated core audience, the overall momentum hasn’t reached the level required to sustain a team of this size long-term.”
Is 2XKO on the decline? Riot Games has announced layoffs within the team.
A tweet from Geoff Keighley on February 9, 2026, states, “Riot has announced layoffs on the 2XKO team. Overall momentum hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size long-term.”
Despite these setbacks, it appears the game isn’t finished yet. Cannon hinted that support for 2XKO will persist with a “smaller, more focused team,” and promised an upcoming update on future plans. He shared, “We’re restructuring the team to give 2XKO a more sustainable path forward.”
A former gameplay animator involved with the project, Thomas Huynh, expressed his feelings on X (formerly Twitter): “I was laid off from Riot today. 2XKO was everything I dreamed of—my ideal studio, my dream project, animating fighting game characters alongside some of the best in the industry. I put my heart into every animation, every frame. Seeing those characters come to life was truly magical.”
Content creator Scarra commented, “Hearing news about 2XKO is really upsetting. I loved Riot’s venture into fighting games, and hearing about layoffs just two weeks after the launch doesn’t look good.”
For more updates, visit Digital Phablet’s official channels, where we will continue to cover this developing story.
