Riot Games’ 2XKO officially launched on January 20, 2026, and while the team should be celebrating all those years of hard work and development, some of them are updating their LinkedIn profiles. In a post published on Riot Games’ official website, Tom Cannon, 2XKO’s executive producer, confirmed the company has reduced the size of the 2XKO team. According to Cannon, 2XKO has resonated with a passionate core audience, but overall momentum hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size long term.
Generally, these messages are sugarcoated, and this one isn’t any different. Riot is claiming that a smaller, focused team will allow it to dig in and make key improvements to the game. The company is saying it’s reshaping the team to give 2XKO a more sustainable path forward. For now, plans for the 2026 Competitive Series are unchanged and 2XKO will remain committed to partnering with tournament organizers and local communities. As for those team members who are impacted, Riot says it’s doing what it can to help find them opportunities within Riot where possible, and providing a minimum of six months of notice pay and severance when that’s not possible.
It’s not uncommon for development teams to downsize following the launch of a game, especially if the entire team isn’t needed to support it moving forward. Still, this cycle in the gaming industry is hardly sustainable. There was always a belief that working for big companies like Riot Games and Blizzard Entertainment meant job security, but these days, that’s hardly the case. Personally, I find it more interesting to see how many of these talented developers take matters into their own hands. With increasing access to AI tools that are capable of helping produce games, I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more indie developers choose their own path rather than signing an employment contract.
