Riot Games will stop active development of 2XKO in December 2026, less than a year after the game reached PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The free-to-play fighting title set in the League of Legends universe will remain playable afterward, with Riot planning to leave its servers online.
According to reports from Eurogamer and GamesIndustry.biz, Riot determined that the project had not retained enough players to create a sustainable business path. The company said it costs substantially more to operate than it brings in, a difficult position for a live-service release built around ongoing player spending. Riot had previously announced staff reductions affecting the team working on the game.
Players will keep access after development ends
Riot plans to unlock every playable character, giving remaining players the full roster without further purchases. It also intends to refund money spent on the game. Those steps mean existing players should retain access to the core competitive lineup even as new work ends, while refunds acknowledge that the title’s paid economy will no longer support a continuing roadmap.
The game launched in early access on PC in October 2025, then arrived on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in January. Ending production in December will close its active update cycle roughly 11 months after that console milestone. The short run underscores the challenge of establishing an audience for a new competitive fighter, even when it draws from one of gaming’s largest established universes.
The decision matters because retention is central to free-to-play games that must fund continued operations through player purchases. Riot’s move ends a multi-platform push tied to League of Legends and follows earlier cuts to the development team, making it a significant retreat from the company’s fighting-game plans. Players who bought content now face an unusual outcome: continued server access alongside refunds and a fully unlocked roster.
Riot has not specified the timetable or process for refunds, how long the servers will operate after 2026, or how many employees are affected. The company also has not provided the financial results or player-retention figures that led to the decision.
