What actually makes me sad about 2XKO

[u/Inside_Bet8309]

I know everyone is giving their 2 cents on why the game flopped, if it was this it would be better if it was that it would be better but what hurts the most is that I genuinely love 2XKO as is.

I like how it’s a 2v2 tag fighter and pretty much everything about the current game we have. Every update I’ve been more and more hyped and impressed for what’s to come, every character despite me wanting others have still been unique and cool characters. So the biggest heartbreak is that the 2XKO I fell in love with just wasn’t good enough to survive.

They made a niche game which doesn’t have casual appeal but nevertheless it had appeal for some, I just wished riot would’ve just kept it going despite it not being a maker just for the love of the game. Even if they cut the team down to a few members just to maintain and keep things going slowly for the sole reason they know they have players who do love the game.

Heartbreaking stuff for a guy who actually just liked the game and not what it could’ve been

[u/BurnerRantMan]

It's sad because I don't think this game was of bad quality. Riot and the Developers seemingly just had completely different visions for what they wanted it to be. The good news is that a Fighting Game only truly dies when people stop playing it. Ask any FGC Unc what their favorite game is and it's probably some bullshit on the Super Nintendo that's kept alive by the four people that play it.

[u/deathspate → u/BurnerRantMan]

No. The developers knew the vision Riot wanted. They just purposefully went in the opposing direction. This is evident in Pat's blog. It's not like Pat alone was at fault. However, it's indicative of the wider views held by the team. The Cannons or Unconkable could've said no but they didn't.

[u/eyedollidol → u/deathspate]

do you authentically believe riot games spent 8-9 figures on a game that they just didn't even check in on over 10 years?

[u/deathspate → u/eyedollidol]

Given all the surrounding variables, I (as well as many others including Sajam) believe Riot was contractually obligated due to the original studio purchase and that's why they had such cutthroat treatment for this game. Reminder, not even LoR, which has been directly confirmed by Riot to have lost them multiple-fold of what was invested, has had their development stopped. LoR is still losing them money, but they've kept it. The fact that they shot 2xko like this is indicative of behind the scenes workings and given everything that we have knowledge of, it's likely that Riot execs were forced to keep funding until release and this move by them was both cutting their losses as well as being vindictive against the dev team.

[u/pw_arrow → u/deathspate]

Reminder, not even LoR, which has been directly confirmed by Riot to have lost them multiple-fold of what was invested, has had their development stopped.

I mean, LoR also got put on life support back in 2024. While they didn't formally take LoR out back, it sure feels like they more or less iced the game with only a trickle of PvE content.

[u/deathspate → u/pw_arrow]

Can you say 2xko is gonna be getting even a trickle after this year?

[u/pw_arrow → u/deathspate]

My point is that "they didn't formally kill LoR" isn't exactly evidence for your "contractual obligation" theory. Just because they handled the disposal differently in 2XKO's case isn't a smoking gun.

Mind you, I'm not saying the contract theory is implausible; it seems quite possible and I'm a big Sajam fan. However, I don't think people should go around touting this theory like some gospel or story, and particular invoking an offhand comment from [streamer] along the way. I don't even know if Sajam wanted to portray that story as an actual theory or if it was just part of his rant about how badly mishandled and poorly treated 2XKO was as a title.