Key information
Riot Games' fighting title 2XKO required a monthly active user base reaching into the high hundreds of thousands or even millions to sustain its live service framework. This assessment came from CPO and co-founder Marc Merrill during an appearance on The Lemonade Stand podcast, where he noted that the player audience ultimately fell short of requirements.
According to Merrill, active development wrapped up in August because the project cost substantially more to run than it generated. Furthermore, player engagement plateaued despite major updates, and the launch suffered due to competition from Street Fighter 6, which debuted years after production began.
Reflecting on internal challenges, Merrill mentioned that leadership shifts created a strategy disconnect and managerial fracturing, leading to conflicting guidance for the developers. Despite praising the talented team, he stated that leadership bore full responsibility for the outcome.
Even though development has concluded, the free-to-play title remains accessible for download on personal computers, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 systems, with servers guaranteed to stay active past 2026.
