2XKO
News, coverage and analysis tracking 2XKO across the outlets.
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Riot Games is considering making premium titles, says co-founder
Riot Games is exploring the development of premium, non-free-to-play titles, according to co-founder Marc Merrill. While the company has found success with free-to-play games like League of Legends and Valorant, Merrill indicated that not every game needs to be free-to-play and that the business model must fit the game's vision. This comes after the discontinuation of their fighting game 2XKO and the winding down of the Riot Forge publishing label.
2XKO patch 1.3.1 notes bring in Lux & close Ranked queues
Riot Games has released patch 1.3.1 for 2XKO, which introduces the new playable character Lux but also marks the closure of Ranked matchmaking as content development winds down. The game's active development is set to cease in December 2026, though servers will remain operational.
Riot MMO's future is 'incredibly bright' despite co-founder likening its development to the grail: 'Many a brave knight are going to die'
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill expressed confidence in the ongoing development of the company's mysterious MMO, likening the challenging process to an internal 'grail quest.' Despite the project's long development and the recent closure of another Riot game, 2XKO, Merrill believes the future is 'incredibly bright.' However, no specific details regarding a name, release window, or progress were provided.
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 co-founder Marc Merrill discussed the decision to cease future development on the fighting game 2XKO, stating it was not a mistake but a difficult market to succeed in. He explained that the game struggled to gain sustainable momentum against the overwhelming competition for player attention and time, despite its quality and innovative features. Merrill affirmed that Riot Games remains committed to taking risks and developing new titles, including an unannounced MMO.
League of Legends MMO is Riot's "Grail quest" and "many a brave knight are going to die," boss says, but fans aren't confident after 2XKO's fate: "Hope this time you don't cancel it"
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill referred to the long-in-development League of Legends MMO as the studio's "Grail quest," acknowledging the high stakes and potential for failure. However, fan confidence is low due to the recent cancellation of 2XKO and changes to Legends of Runeterra, with many expressing concern that the MMO could also be canceled or lack long-term support.
2XKO wasn't a "mistake," Riot's Marc Merrill says. "We delivered a game that took risks"
Riot Games Co-Founder Marc Merrill stated that 2XKO was not a mistake, but a game that took risks, despite its development ending. He acknowledged the challenges of the fighting game market and the difficulty of sustaining live service titles in a competitive landscape. While 2XKO did not achieve critical mass, Merrill expressed pride in the team's effort and commitment to taking big swings with future projects.
"Many a brave knight are going to die" - Riot Games head Marc Merrill speaks on in-development MMO after 2XKO's untimely demise
Riot Games CPO Marc Merrill discussed the studio's in-development MMO, calling it "the grail" despite the recent shutdown of its fighting game 2XKO. While Merrill expressed optimism and commitment to the ambitious project, public sentiment is skeptical due to 2XKO's short lifespan and other Riot Games live service titles facing similar fates.
Riot Games knows its MMO is a big risk. "But f*** it, it's The Grail, so let's go."
Riot Games is proceeding with its ambitious MMORPG project, acknowledging the genre's high failure rate and calling the endeavor 'The Grail.' Despite a recent project reset and the cancellation of its fighter 2XKO due to sustainability concerns, studio co-founder Marc Merrill expressed confidence in the team's ability to execute and deliver a worthy experience.
Fall’s Video Game Release Slate Is Intimidatingly Good And Completely Doomed
The Fall 2026 video game release schedule is packed with highly anticipated titles, but this glut is predicted to cause a 'bloodbath' in the industry. Intense competition for consumer dollars and a worsening global economy are expected to lead to significant underperformance, layoffs, and potential studio closures, particularly for smaller developers. Even major publishers may struggle to navigate the crowded market, with few likely to emerge unscathed.
Riot Games is winding down 2XKO active development in December
Riot Games is ceasing active development of its fighting game, 2XKO, in December, though content updates will continue until the end of 2026. The studio cited a lack of sustained player engagement and the high operational costs of the free-to-play title as reasons for the decision. Servers will remain online for the foreseeable future, and all in-game purchases will be refunded.
MMO Week in Review: Way too early access
This week's MMO news covers the early access launch of Stars Reach, which some consider premature. Other highlights include a look at Guild Wars 3's Kodan, Daybreak's acquisition of Cold Iron Studios, new content for EverQuest Legends, and an analysis of the survival game Stormforge. The article also touches on various other MMO updates, rumors, and industry discussions.
2XKO's shutdown has me feeling glum about Riot's future MMO—because I don't think the genre can survive corporate cut-and-run tactics
The shutdown of Riot Games' fighting game 2XKO has raised concerns about the future of the company's upcoming MMO, due to perceived corporate impatience with long-term development cycles. The article argues that the high cost and long development time required for MMOs necessitate a sustained commitment that Riot's recent actions, including layoffs after 2XKO's release, do not inspire confidence in.
Major 2026 PlayStation 5 Online Game Already Losing Support, Trophies Affected
Riot Games has announced that development on its PlayStation 5 fighting game, 2XKO, will cease in December 2026 due to insufficient player retention. While servers will remain online, ranked and casual play will be removed in September, making certain trophies, including the Platinum, unobtainable.
Riot’s fighting game 2XKO will trade active development for maintenance mode in December
Riot Games has announced that active development for its fighting game 2XKO will cease in December 2026, transitioning the game to maintenance mode. While no new content will be added after this year, servers will remain online, all champions will be unlocked, and players will be refunded for all money spent. Lux and Samira will be added before the end of the year, followed by a final bugfix patch.
Riot Games to end LoL fighting game 2XK0's development and issue refunds, less than a year since launch
Riot Games is ending active development on its free-to-play fighting game, 2XKO, in December, less than a year after its full release. The company cited a lack of a sustainable path forward due to low player retention and engagement. All in-game purchases made before August 20th will be refunded, and all characters will be unlocked by the end of development.
Riot Games sunsets active development on 2XKO as it costs "substantially more to operate than it brings in"
Riot Games is ending active development on its free-to-play fighting game 2XKO in December due to high operating costs and flat engagement. Servers will remain online beyond 2026, and the game will continue to be playable for free on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Riot will issue refunds for in-game currency and has unlocked most gameplay content, including all champion characters, with upcoming patches.
2XKO to End Active Development in December 2026 — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Riot Games announced that active development for its fighting game 2XKO will cease in December 2026, though the game will remain playable. The decision stems from the game's inability to achieve sustainability, with Riot citing a lack of meaningful, sustained player engagement. Upcoming characters and content will still be released, and all purchases made before August 20 will be refunded.
Riot Games tag-fighter 2XKO to shutter development later this year
Riot Games has announced that active development for its tag-fighter 2XKO will cease by December 2026. Despite a dedicated community, the game has not achieved the player engagement necessary for long-term sustainability. While new content, including two champions, will be released through the end of 2026, the game will remain online with servers supported after active development concludes.
Riot is ending active development of 2XKO in December
Riot Games has announced that active development for their fighting game 2XKO will cease in December. However, the game will continue to receive content updates until October 2026.
Riot is ending development of its 2XKO fighting game
Riot Games has announced the end of active development for its fighting game 2XKO, citing a lack of sustained player engagement for long-term sustainability. While servers will remain online until the end of 2026 and all fighters will be unlocked, no new content will be developed after this year. Players who spent money on the game before August 20 will receive refunds.
