Riot Games pulls the plug on 2XKO, issues refunds to players
The League of Legends fighting game is shutting down less than a year after launch. Riot says it's ending development and offering refunds to everyone who spent money.
The 60-second version
Riot Games is ending development of 2XKO, its League of Legends fighting game, less than a year after launch. The company is issuing full refunds to all players who made purchases.
Key points
- 2XKO was first announced in 2019 and launched as a full title less than a year before its cancellation
- Riot is offering full refunds for all in-game purchases including battle passes, character unlocks, and cosmetics
- The fighting game genre is notoriously difficult to break into, dominated by decades-old franchises with loyal communities
- Servers will remain online for a limited time but no new content or updates will be released
Verdict. 2XKO's cancellation is a rare misstep for Riot Games and a sobering reminder that even the biggest companies can't force a competitive fighting game franchise into existence. The refund commitment is a classy move, but it doesn't soften the blow for the passionate community that believed in the game.
A short-lived brawlThe rise and fall of 2XKO
2XKO, originally announced as Project L in 2019, was Riot Games' ambitious attempt to break into the fighting game genre. The tag-team 2v2 fighter featured champions from the League of Legends universe and aimed to carve out a space in a market dominated by Street Fighter, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. The reveal was met with real excitement — the tag mechanic was fresh, the art style was vibrant, and Riot's track record of supporting its games long-term gave players confidence.
But less than a year after its full launch, Riot has pulled the plug. The company confirmed it is ending all development on the title and issuing refunds to players who made in-game purchases. No detailed reason was given for the cancellation, though industry observers point to the immense difficulty of establishing a new competitive fighting game franchise from scratch.
Why fighting games are hardThe brutal economics of competitive brawlers
Fighting games have a unique challenge in the gaming industry. Unlike battle royales or shooters — where millions of casual players can drop in and have fun — fighting games require deep mechanical skill, matchup knowledge, and a thriving competitive scene to sustain long-term interest. The genre's biggest players — Street Fighter, Tekken, Guilty Gear — have been building their communities for decades.
For a newcomer like 2XKO, the math was daunting. Riot would have needed to sponsor tournaments, support content creators, build matchmaking infrastructure, and grow a player base across all skill levels. Even with the League of Legends brand attached, translating that into fighting game players is not automatic. The genre's core audience is passionate but relatively small, and they're deeply loyal to existing franchises.
Refunds and what's nextWhat players should know
Riot has confirmed that all players who made purchases in 2XKO will receive full refunds. This includes battle pass purchases, character unlocks, cosmetic items, and any other in-game transactions. The company says it will communicate directly with affected players about the refund process and timeline. Servers will remain online for a limited period, but no new content, balance patches, or events will be released.
For Riot, the 2XKO cancellation is a rare public failure. The company is still immensely successful — League of Legends remains one of the most played games in the world, Valorant is a top-tier esport, and the Arcane series was a cultural phenomenon. But 2XKO's fate may make Riot more cautious about expanding into genres outside its established strengths in the future.
Even with Riot's money and the League of Legends brand, breaking into fighting games proved too expensive. The genre's walls are built on decades of community loyalty.
Primary sourcesEurogamer·Rock Paper Shotgun