Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Riot's League of Legends fighting game is struggling. Just 3 weeks after the release of 1.0 version on console, half of the development team has been laid off, with over 80 jobs impacted. This is the complete history of 2XKO and its journey so far to this point.
0:00 - 2XKO Lays off half their team and initial reactions
4:39 - 2XKO's origins a decade ago with Rising Thunder
9:17 - Riot Games acquires Rising Thunder (and the reaction)
13:33 - First look at "Project L" in 2019
15:58 - Project L becomes a 2v2 tag game in 2021
19:24 - Project L becomes 2XKO in 2023
21:50 - 2XKO gets in the hands of the FGC
24:32 - 2XKO gameplay in comparison to popular fighting games
27:30 - Tag fighters and 2XKO
29:42 - Single player content and fighting games
30:45 - 2XKO is releasing with 10 characters
33:09 - LoL vs. Arcane characters
35:55 - 2XKO Closed Beta and Early Access
38:00 - 2XKO is not reaching anyone outside of the FGC
41:30 - People notice the lack of interest
42:44 - Console launch
43:45 - Comparisons to Multiversus
45:09 - Many random controversies
46:15 - Hope with tournament and community engagement
48:40 - Layoff announcement hits 3 weeks after console launch
49:10 - Lead character designers laid off
52:30 - Layoff announcements is the first time people hear about 2XKO
53:58 - My analysis of what went wrong
1:00:56 - Biggest issue with 2XKO
MAIN CHANNEL: youtube.com/@Brian_F
TRASH TALK YOUTUBE CHANNEL: youtube.com/@TrashTalkFGC
TRASH TALK + EXTRA TRASHY PODCAST: open.spotify.com/show/6q4KFX6icVO4AuyKvvwzt9
NEW MERCH: https://BrianF.Shop
Patreon: patreon.com/c/Brian_F
Twitch stream: twitch.tv/brian_f
Twitter: twitter.com/bri4nf
Old Merch: brian-f.creator-spring.com
Fighting Game gear/PC Setup: amazon.com/shop/bri4nf
Amazon Affiliates link: amzn.to/2C3sIKb
Headphones: amazon.com/dp/B00SKVNS00?ref=exp_bri4nf_dp_vv_d
#Brian_F #riot #2xko
Riot's League of Legends fighting game is struggling. Just 3 weeks after the release of 1.0 version on console, half of the development team has been laid off, with over 80 jobs impacted. This is the complete history of 2XKO and its journey so far to this point.
0:00 - 2XKO Lays off half their team and initial reactions
4:39 - 2XKO's origins a decade ago with Rising Thunder
9:17 - Riot Games acquires Rising Thunder (and the reaction)
13:33 - First look at "Project L" in 2019
15:58 - Project L becomes a 2v2 tag game in 2021
19:24 - Project L becomes 2XKO in 2023
21:50 - 2XKO gets in the hands of the FGC
24:32 - 2XKO gameplay in comparison to popular fighting games
27:30 - Tag fighters and 2XKO
29:42 - Single player content and fighting games
30:45 - 2XKO is releasing with 10 characters
33:09 - LoL vs. Arcane characters
35:55 - 2XKO Closed Beta and Early Access
38:00 - 2XKO is not reaching anyone outside of the FGC
41:30 - People notice the lack of interest
42:44 - Console launch
43:45 - Comparisons to Multiversus
45:09 - Many random controversies
46:15 - Hope with tournament and community engagement
48:40 - Layoff announcement hits 3 weeks after console launch
49:10 - Lead character designers laid off
52:30 - Layoff announcements is the first time people hear about 2XKO
53:58 - My analysis of what went wrong
1:00:56 - Biggest issue with 2XKO
MAIN CHANNEL: youtube.com/@Brian_F
TRASH TALK YOUTUBE CHANNEL: youtube.com/@TrashTalkFGC
TRASH TALK + EXTRA TRASHY PODCAST: open.spotify.com/show/6q4KFX6icVO4AuyKvvwzt9
NEW MERCH: https://BrianF.Shop
Patreon: patreon.com/c/Brian_F
Twitch stream: twitch.tv/brian_f
Twitter: twitter.com/bri4nf
Old Merch: brian-f.creator-spring.com
Fighting Game gear/PC Setup: amazon.com/shop/bri4nf
Amazon Affiliates link: amzn.to/2C3sIKb
Headphones: amazon.com/dp/B00SKVNS00?ref=exp_bri4nf_dp_vv_d
#Brian_F #riot #2xko
