{"rewrite":{"id":"r_28ae83e9f3e70bf2c06298d9","clusterId":"c_0db1f23794b7176a3f12705f","slug":"riot-games-ends-2xko-development-at-end-of-2026","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Riot Games Ends 2XKO Active Development at End of 2026","summary":"Riot Games announced on August 21 that active development of the free-to-play 2v2 fighting game 2XKO will end at the end of 2026. The online servers will continue to operate, and the game will remain playable on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with offline play unaffected. The company said player retention did not reach a sustainable level, and that operating costs far exceeded revenue, with engagement remaining flat even after major updates. Throughout 2026, Riot Games introduced new champions, the PvE mode The Climb, and competitive events, but these did not change the game's trajectory. The company considered reducing team size, decreasing update frequency, and changing the business model before deciding to complete in-development content and end active development. Updates continue through the year: patch 1.3.1 on September 8 adds champion Lux and unlocks all champions for all players, while patch 1.3.3 in October adds Samira, the final new champion. A December patch focuses on bug fixes. Systems including the battle pass, KO Points, champion tokens, seasons, events, and ranked matches will be removed, with matchmaking consolidated into casual lobbies. Refunds for eligible in-game purchases made by August 20 are planned, with Japan and Korea procedures to be announced later.","whyItMatters":"2XKO's shutdown comes roughly one year after its January 2026 full launch and follows a February layoff of about 80 developers, roughly half the team, making it one of Riot Games' shortest-lived major releases.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePatch 1.3.1 on September 8 adds \u0026#34;Lux, the Lady of Luminosity\u0026#34; and unlocks all champions for all players.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePatch 1.3.3 in October adds \u0026#34;Samira, the Desert Rose,\u0026#34; the final new champion and last major content update.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePatch 1.3.5 in December focuses on bug fixes, delivered as needed.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSystems removed to sustain the online service: battle pass, KO Points, champion tokens, seasons, events, and ranked matches.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMatchmaking consolidates into casual lobbies, where skill-based matchmaking remains; private lobbies continue.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCustomization items will be bundled and made unlockable with in-game credits.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOn PC, refunds cover KO Points and the \u0026#34;2XKO Starter Edition,\u0026#34; returned to the original payment method; PS5 and Xbox Series X|S refunds go through each platform.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eJapan and Korea server refunds follow local laws, with procedures in future notices or individual notifications.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe \u0026#34;2XKO Competitive Series\u0026#34; 2026 schedule is unchanged, with the final official event in November; community tournaments can continue from 2027 under guidelines.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRiot Games said it will take knowledge from \u0026#34;2XKO\u0026#34; back to research and development while exploring new genres.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Riot Games is ending 2XKO active development at the end of 2026, saying player retention never reached a sustainable level. Servers stay up, all champions unlock, and refunds are coming for purchases made before August 20.","twitterPost":"2XKO launched in January 2026. By December, active development is done. Riot says operating costs far exceeded revenue and engagement stayed flat even after major updates. The final new champion, Samira, arrives in October.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Riot Games is ending active development on its League of Legends fighting game 2XKO at the end of 2026, citing insufficient player retention and operating costs that far exceeded revenue. Servers will remain online, all champions will be unlocked, and refunds are planned for purchases made before August 20.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260821c\",\"title\":\"Riot Games' '2XKO' Fighting Game to End Development; Online Servers to Continue, Refunds Announced\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260821-461536/\",\"title\":\"Fighting game '2XKO' based on 'League of Legends' to end development this year, closing after about one year\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/21/171009.html\",\"title\":\"'LoL' Fighting Game '2XKO' to End Active Development at End of 2026, as 'Players Did Not Stick Around.' Servers Will Continue\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/08/21/186511.html\",\"title\":\"'LoL' Fighting Game '2XKO' to End Active Development at End of 2026, as 'Players Did Not Stick Around.' Servers Will Continue\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":13150,"outputTokens":1601,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787268831,"createdAt":"2026-08-20T23:23:47.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-20T23:26:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T01:44:13.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_0db1f23794b7176a3f12705f","canonicalTitle":"『LoL』格ゲー『2XKO』2026年末で継続的な開発終了へ、「プレイヤーが定着しなかった」ため。サーバーは今後も継続","representativeArticleId":"a_cc0fe3a917efe688f312f00d","sourceCount":4,"writtenSourceCount":4,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"2XKO\",\"League of Legends\"],\"studios\":[\"Riot Games\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-20T19:30:19.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-21T01:35:03.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T01:44:13.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260821-461536/","title":"『League of Legends』の格闘ゲーム『2XKO』、今年限りで開発終了へ。約1年での幕切れ"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260821c","title":"『LoL』の格闘ゲーム『2XKO』が「開発終了」へ。オンラインサーバーは継続、返金対応も発表"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/08/21/186511.html","title":"『LoL』格ゲー『2XKO』2026年末で継続的な開発終了へ、「プレイヤーが定着しなかった」ため。サーバーは今後も継続"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/21/171009.html","title":"『LoL』格ゲー『2XKO』2026年末で継続的な開発終了へ、「プレイヤーが定着しなかった」ため。サーバーは今後も継続"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["2XKO","League of Legends"],"studios":["Riot Games"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Riot Games announced on August 21 that active development of 2XKO will end at the end of 2026.","2XKO officially launched on January 21, 2026, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, following PC early access in October 2025.","Roughly 80 developers, about half of the 2XKO development team, were laid off on February 10, 2026.","Patch 1.3.1 on September 8 adds champion Lux and unlocks all champions; patch 1.3.3 in October adds Samira, the final new champion.","Riot Games will issue refunds for eligible in-game purchases made by August 20, with Japan and Korea procedures announced later."]}