Riot Games’ Canceled Platform Fighter Puts All Eyes on 2XKO

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Riot Games' Canceled Platform Fighter Puts All Eyes on 2XKO

Highlights

  • Riot Games has big plans for League of Legends IP, with Arcane season 2 and new fighter Braum in 2XKO.
  • A canceled project called Pool Party was meant to attract Super Smash Bros. Melee players but was deemed too risky.
  • 2XKO, developed by Radiant Entertainment, has the experience and support to succeed as Riot’s flagship fighting game.

As a long-time fan of Riot Games and League of Legends, I’m both excited and apprehensive about the recent developments surrounding their IP. On one hand, the upcoming second season of Arcane and the announcement of Braum as a new fighter in 2XKO are reasons enough for me to stay invested in the League of Legends universe.

Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz about Riot Games and their “League of Legends” intellectual property. The second season of “Arcane” is set to debut in November 2024, while fighting game “2XKO” has revealed the powerful Braum as its latest fighter, with the Alpha Lab playtest drawing near. Even casual fans of “League of Legends” character designs have something exciting to look forward to. Both “Arcane” and “2XKO,” previously known as “Project L,” have attracted significant attention over the years and continue to be Riot’s standout projects in expanding the “LoL” brand.

In the broader realm of League of Legends initiatives, things aren’t all smooth sailing. An intriguing piece of information has emerged, suggesting that Riot Games was developing a second fighting game. However, this project, reportedly named “Pool Party,” has unfortunately been cancelled. This potential platform fighter could have complemented the ongoing surge in fighting games with its unique offering, but it was deemed too risky to pursue due to the perceived struggles of MultiVersus. The sudden disappearance and controversial return of MultiVersus has increased the importance placed on 2XKO’s success.

Riot’s Canceled “Pool Party” Game Explained

As a longtime fan of both League of Legends and Super Smash Bros., I’ve been following the development news of Riot Games closely. With years of experience in watching trailers for new champions, I was genuinely intrigued by the mysterious “2XKO” project. However, when it came to “Pool Party,” I must admit that I found myself feeling a tad frustrated and confused.

Why An Unproven Fighting Game Is A Risky Release

It’s astonishing that Riot Games had not one but two distinct fighting game projects underway at the same time, given the high risk associated with this gaming genre. Previously, Warner Bros. Interactive published NetherRealm Studios’ successful titles, Injustice and Mortal Kombat, in the fighting game sphere. Despite Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s dominance having receded, Riot still struggled to create a platform fighter that gained traction. Senior series in the fighting game world often set the trend, and it was the dedication of veteran players that kept Riot engaged in creating fighting games to begin with.

Why 2XKO Can Shoulder The Weight Of Being Riot’s Only Fighting Game

Tom and Tony Cannon, Radiant Entertainment’s co-founders, are well-known figures in the North American fighting game community. They established Radiant Entertainment, which produced “2XKO,” as well as developed Rollback netcode’s early version of GGPO middleware and the renowned EVO tournament series. Before being bought by Riot Games in 2016 to create a spin-off of “League of Legends,” they honed their skills on the technical alpha for “Rising Thunder.” After joining forces with Riot, Radiant Entertainment attracted more prominent team members, leading to increased influence and progress within the company.

2XKO Is Looking Good, But Can’t Afford To Fail Now

Age is now 2XKO’s most valuable asset, but this advantage comes with the responsibility of justifying the significant investment of nearly a decade. Radiant Games has had ample time to design the ideal 2v2 tag fighter for 2XKO, and they still have plenty of time left to fine-tune every detail before the game’s scheduled release in 2025. With no other notable competitors in its genre currently, and the substantial resources Radiant has dedicated to this project, it is highly likely that 2XKO will make a successful debut. However, with Riot Games relying on it as their primary fighting game, 2XKO must deliver an exceptional experience.

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2024-07-16 14:24