Riot Games, best known for creating the wildly popular League of Legends, appears to have pulled the plug on an ambitious project inspired by the legendary Super Smash Bros. series. Dubbed “Pool Party” during development, this Melee-inspired fighter was set within the League of Legends universe and aimed to tap into the massive appeal of brawler-style gameplay. However, according to a report by journalist Mikhail Klimentov (via ReaderGrev), Riot canceled the project in late May, leaving many fans and industry watchers wondering what led to this decision.
The Super Smash Bros. series has long reigned as the undisputed king of brawlers, and numerous companies have tried—often with mixed results—to recreate its magic using their own franchises. Riot’s attempt with Pool Party was no different. The project was designed to merge the fast-paced, chaotic battles that fans adore with the rich lore and diverse character roster from League of Legends. By doing so, Riot aimed to carve out a unique niche in the crowded fighting game market while also building and supporting an esports scene that they believed could rival even Nintendo’s offerings.
However, the cancellation of Pool Party seems to have been influenced by a reassessment of the current consumer appetite for a Smash competitor. Industry insiders have pointed to the perceived underperformance of MultiVersus, another recent attempt by a major publisher to break into the brawler genre, as a significant factor. With consumer enthusiasm for such titles appearing lukewarm, executives at Riot reportedly became “spooked,” deciding that the risks outweighed the potential rewards.
At the time of its cancellation, Riot had dedicated approximately 70-80 employees to the development of Pool Party. Following the decision to halt the project, about half of these team members have been reassigned to other projects within the company, while the remaining employees are in the process of reapplying for new positions via Riot’s internal job board. This strategic redeployment suggests that while Riot is stepping back from this particular venture, it remains committed to exploring new and innovative game ideas in the future.
Despite the setback with Pool Party, all is not lost for Riot’s fighting game aspirations. The company continues to make progress on another fighter project, now known as 2XKO (formerly Project L). Unlike the brawler approach of Pool Party, 2XKO appears to be a more traditional fighter, and Riot has scheduled its launch for 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This pivot indicates that while Riot may have been cautious about entering the crowded arena of Super Smash Bros.-like games, they are still determined to bring a new fighting game to market—one that might better align with current market trends and consumer expectations.
The cancellation of Pool Party highlights the challenges that even industry giants face when attempting to innovate within established genres. The legacy of Super Smash Bros. is both a blessing and a curse; its enormous popularity sets a high bar that is difficult to match. Companies that try to emulate its success often find that the market for fighting games is not as expansive or as eager for new entries as one might assume. In the case of Riot, the decision to cancel Pool Party reflects a careful consideration of market conditions and consumer behavior, rather than a failure to innovate per se.
Moreover, Riot’s approach to managing its portfolio of intellectual properties is worth noting. The company has a rich history of leveraging its popular characters across different game genres and media. Although Pool Party was set within the League of Legends universe, it could have been an opportunity to expand that universe in unexpected ways. The cancellation, therefore, also speaks to the strategic balancing act that companies like Riot must perform: innovating while ensuring that new projects resonate with both the existing fan base and potential new players.
As the industry awaits further news on 2XKO, fans of fighting games and League of Legends alike will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Riot’s next moves. The cancellation of Pool Party may have been disappointing, but it also demonstrates Riot’s willingness to pivot and adapt in an ever-changing market. Whether 2XKO will fulfill the promise of a fresh, engaging fighter remains to be seen, but for now, the focus is on delivering a product that meets the high standards set by both the company and its fans.
What are your thoughts on Riot’s decision? Do you think 2XKO can redeem the company’s foray into the fighting game genre? Let us know in the comments.
