Riot is Ending 2XKO Development, But the Game Will Stay Online After 2026

Riot has pulled the plug on active 2XKO development after the fighting game failed to build a sustainable player base. The game is not disappearing, however. Servers will stay online, while Riot finishes planned content and unlocks major parts of the experience for everyone.

2XKO will remain playable after active development ends

Riot says active development will conclude at the end of 2026. The team plans to release its final major content before shifting toward maintenance.

The decision follows months of tracking player retention, engagement, new players, and revenue. Riot says the numbers never reached a sustainable level despite several major updates.

Akali, Senna, Thresh, and The Climb helped create positive moments. However, those releases failed to produce meaningful, lasting growth. Riot says the game costs substantially more to operate than it generates. Engagement has also remained relatively flat despite larger updates.

Lux and Samira will still land before the shutdown

Riot is not abandoning players immediately. Lux arrives with Patch 1.3.1 on September 8, while Samira follows with Patch 1.3.3 in October. Patch 1.3.1 will also unlock every champion for players. Ranked mode will disappear, while Casual matchmaking becomes the main competitive matchmaking pool.

Riot will remove Battle Passes, KO Points, Champion Tokens, seasons, and events. Private lobbies will remain available, with support expanded for larger groups. The game will also receive a major cosmetic overhaul. A 2XKO Ultimate Bundle will offer nearly every cosmetic item for $39.99.

Riot is additionally refunding purchases made on or before August 20. PC refunds should begin within two weeks, with completion planned by November.

2XKO’s servers will remain online

Riot plans a final bug-fix patch in December if needed. Afterward, servers will continue supporting online play. The final Competitive Series event is scheduled for November. Community tournaments can continue beyond 2026 under Riot’s competition guidelines.

For now, Riot says its focus is leaving 2XKO in a strong state. The studio will then return to research and development for its next project.