Riot Games Faces Backlash After Laying Off Around 80 Staff Post-2XKO Launch

Riot Games is facing a fresh wave of scrutiny after cutting roughly 80 jobs shortly after the launch of its fighting title 2XKO, a move that has reignited debates around layoffs across the gaming industry. Riot Games, best known for League of Legends and Valorant, said the cuts were part of a strategic shift to place the project on a 'more sustainable path', but the timing has drawn criticism from players and developers alike.

The studio confirmed that the changes were focused on the 2XKO team, which had expanded during development.

While the company emphasised that the decision was not a reflection of individual performance, the announcement has stirred frustration online, particularly among fans who had expected the new title to mark a major competitive push for Riot's fighting game ambitions.

The layoffs come at a sensitive time for the global video game industry, which has seen tens of thousands of job cuts across major publishers since 2023. Critics argue the move reflects a broader trend of aggressive expansion followed by rapid downsizing, especially after high-profile launches.

Riot Says Team Reduction Will Support Long-Term Future of 2XKO

In a statement shared with the community, 2XKO executive producer Tom Cannon said the decision followed 'a lot of discussion and reflection' inside the studio. According to Cannon, player engagement trends after the expansion from PC to consoles did not match expectations.

He wrote that the game had 'resonated with a passionate core audience', but overall momentum had not reached a level that could support a larger team over the long term. As a result, Riot opted to reduce the size of the development group and focus on key improvements requested by players.

Cannon stressed that the move should not be seen as a verdict on the affected staff, noting that those involved in shipping the game had 'poured years of creativity, care, and belief into this game'. Riot said impacted employees would receive a minimum of six months' notice pay and severance, and would be offered support in finding roles within the company where possible.

The studio also confirmed that its 2026 Competitive Series plans for 2XKO remain unchanged, with Riot continuing to work alongside tournament organisers and the wider fighting game community.

The layoffs involved major staff, some of whom, have been working under Riot Games for several years.

Online Reaction Turns Hostile as Layoffs Follow Launch

Despite Riot's assurances, reaction online to the layoffs has been largely negative. Across social media platforms and gaming forums, many users expressed anger at the timing of the layoffs, arguing that staff should not bear the consequences of shifting engagement metrics shortly after release.

Some players criticised what they saw as a pattern across major publishers: building large teams to push new titles, then cutting jobs when early performance falls short of expectations.

Others voiced concern about morale within Riot and questioned whether the company's long-term support for 2XKO could be affected.

Posts circulating on X, Reddit and gaming communities described the move as 'predictable' but 'disappointing', with some fans saying the layoffs undermined their confidence in the project's future. A number of developers from other studios also shared messages of support for the affected staff, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the industry.

Industry-wide Layoffs Continue to Shape Gaming Landscape

Riot's latest cuts follow a prolonged period of restructuring across the video game sector. Since early 2023, major publishers and independent studios alike have announced widespread layoffs, citing rising development costs, slower growth and post-pandemic market corrections.

Analysts say many companies expanded rapidly during the pandemic-era gaming boom, only to face tougher financial realities once growth slowed. As a result, studios have been trimming projects and teams to control costs and refocus on core franchises.

For Riot, the decision appears to be part of a broader effort to streamline operations and prioritise sustainability for 2XKO. Whether the move helps stabilise the project or damages player confidence remains to be seen, but the backlash highlights the sensitivity surrounding layoffs in today's gaming industry.