2XKO
News, coverage and analysis tracking 2XKO across the outlets.
Latest coverage
EVO France 2026: Schedule, brackets, prize pool, games & where to watch
EVO France 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 26 to June 28, 2026, in Nice, France. The tournament will feature popular fighting games including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Guilty Gear Strive, with prize pools varying based on player registration for each title.
Riot Games announces a final hurrah for its ill-fated fighting game 2XKO, with a surprise character joining the roster this month
Riot Games has released a final update for its fighting game 2XKO, which is being sunsetted later this year. The update introduces Samira as the 16th character and also features a surprise reveal of Sett, a character previously requested by fans. Despite the game's short lifespan and eventual discontinuation due to low player retention, it will remain playable.
2XKO needed 'hundreds of thousands' of daily active users to survive, says Riot Games CPO
Riot Games' fighting game 2XKO required hundreds of thousands of daily active users to remain sustainable before its discontinuation. CPO Marc Merrill stated that the game's retention and engagement metrics did not meet the high bar needed for its cost structure. He compared its potential success to Street Fighter 6, noting that 2XKO's chances might have been better if released earlier, but internal strategic misalignment also contributed to its downfall.
There are "all sorts of smart reasons" the League of Legends MMO shouldn't be made, Riot boss says, but…
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill acknowledges numerous 'smart reasons' why the League of Legends MMO shouldn't be made, citing the genre's challenges and existing competition. Despite these concerns, he expresses confidence in the project, highlighting the dedicated Runeterra fanbase and Riot's resources. However, the recent cancellation of the fighting game 2XKO has left fans cautious about the MMO's future.
Riot needed absurd player counts 'in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions' for 2XKO, dooming it…
Riot Games has canceled the development of its fighting game 2XKO, with co-founder Merrill stating that the game would have required "high hundreds of thousands, if not millions" of monthly active users to sustain as a live service. This target is deemed unrealistic compared to successful titles like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear: Strive. The decision has led to layoffs and raises questions about Riot's market research and confidence in niche genres.
2XKO would have needed an MAU base "in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions" to succeed
Riot Games CPO Marc Merrill stated that 2XKO would have required hundreds of thousands to millions of monthly active users to succeed as a live service game. The game, which ended active development in August, was too costly to operate relative to its stagnant engagement. Merrill also cited the release of Street Fighter 6 as a factor, suggesting 2XKO might have fared better if launched earlier.
Riot Games Co-Founder Says 2XKO Needed ‘Hundreds of Thousands, if Not Millions’ of Monthly Active Players to Survive
Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill stated that the fighting game 2XKO would need hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of monthly active players to justify its budget. This revelation has sparked significant debate within the fighting game community regarding the game's financial viability.
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.
