Riot Ends 2XKO Development Within 1 Year as Fighting Games Suffer 2026 Flops

3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Aug 21

Less than a year after launch, 2XKO’s shutdown has become the clearest sign yet of a brutal 2026 for new fighting games.
Riot had already cited weak retention and unsustainable engagement, after earlier staff cuts left the League of Legends fighter’s solid foundation underdeveloped.
Other recent releases have also stumbled: Marvel Tōkon was hurt by a messy PC port, Avatar Legends faced unfinished-game criticism, and Invincible VS faded quickly before reported layoffs at developer Quarter Up.
That run of weak launches is fueling concern that AAA, AA and indie studios may pull back from the genre, leaving established series such as Street Fighter with even firmer dominance.