Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, has characterised the studio’s long-gestating League of Legends MMO as “the grail” of its future projects. Speaking at the PAX West convention in Seattle on 4 September 2026, Merrill addressed the high stakes of the massive multiplayer online game following a significant internal reset and the recent decision to halt active development on the studio’s fighting game, 2XKO.
The project, which has been in development since at least 2021, has yet to receive an official title, release window, or public gameplay footage. It underwent a total reset in 2024 to seek a fresh direction for the franchise, a move that Merrill previously suggested was necessary to ensure the game met player expectations for the League of Legends universe.
Development shifts and veteran hires
Despite the lack of public-facing progress, Riot has continued to recruit high-level talent to steer the project. Earlier in 2026, the studio confirmed the hiring of former World of Warcraft leads Raymond Bartos and Brian Holinka. The team is currently led by executive producer Fabrice Condominas, who is tasked with navigating the project following the departure of former lead Greg Street.
The internal focus on this “grail” project comes at a time of consolidation for the US-based developer. While the MMO continues to receive resources, other titles in the Riot portfolio have faced more difficult transitions as the company seeks to manage the high costs of live-service operations.
2XKO development to end in December
The ambitious scale of the MMO stands in contrast to the fate of 2XKO, Riot’s League of Legends-themed fighting game. The studio announced on 20 August 2026 that it would cease active development on the title this December, less than a year after its initial launch in January.
According to official updates from Riot Games, the decision was driven by the fact that the game was costing substantially more to operate and maintain than it was generating in revenue. While the servers are expected to remain online for the foreseeable future, no further content, new champions, or balance updates are planned once the current cycle concludes.
Practical information for 2XKO players
For those currently playing the fighting game, Riot has introduced several measures to wind down the service fairly:
- Automatic Unlocks: As part of Patch 1.3.1, scheduled for release in September 2026, all champions in 2XKO will be automatically unlocked for all players.
- Refund Policy: Riot has committed to refunding all real-money purchases made in 2XKO on or before 20 August 2026. These refunds are expected to be processed automatically by November 2026.
- Server Status: Players will still be able to access the game after active development ends in December, though the “live service” elements will be effectively frozen.
The contrast between the “grail” quest of the MMO and the sunsetting of 2XKO highlights the increasingly volatile nature of the global gaming industry. While Riot maintains that the future for its larger projects is bright, the studio’s recent history of project resets and service closures suggests a more cautious approach to long-term sustainability is now in effect.
