Riot Games Head Marc Merrill Comments on Mysterious MMO Following 2XKO's Cancellation

Following the surprising cancellation of the fighting game 2XKO, many eyes at Riot Games are now focused on the next big project in the League of Legends universe: an as-yet unannounced MMO, which internally appears to be codenamed “The Grail.” According to a report from Eurogamer, co-founder and Chief Product Officer Marc Merrill commented on this at a PAX panel – using unusually candid words for a project still deep in development.

Why Was 2XKO Canceled?

Riot officially cited economic reasons for 2XKO's cancellation: The free-to-play fighting game, despite solid reviews, did not achieve the necessary player retention and monetization to justify continued live-service operations. For many fans, this was still a harsh blow, as Riot had worked on the title for years and positioned it as one of its most important new pillars alongside League of Legends and Valorant.

What Makes MMO Development So Risky for Riot?

Merrill's choice of words – he reportedly spoke metaphorically about how many a brave knight would still perish on the way to “The Grail” according to Eurogamer – offers deep insight. MMOs are considered one of the most expensive and riskiest genres in the industry: Amazon Games, for example, has already poured tens of millions into New World and the canceled project “Blue” without achieving a real breakthrough. The fact that Riot, of all companies, publicly admits after 2XKO's cancellation that not everything will go smoothly with the MMO primarily shows one thing: The company apparently wants to temper expectations from the outset, rather than giving another live-service promise, as it did with 2XKO, that it ultimately cannot keep.

Merrill did not provide a release window or further details about the MMO's gameplay. So far, it's only clear that it will be set in the existing League of Legends universe, Runeterra.

Source: Eurogamer

Do you believe Riot can succeed with an MMO in the League of Legends universe, or will 2XKO's fate be repeated? Discuss with us in the comments!