I've been following Riot Games' expansion beyond League of Legends for years, so hearing about Pool Party's cancellation hit me like a disappointing ult. As a longtime fan who's poured thousands of hours into Summoner's Rift, I was genuinely excited about a Smash Bros.-style brawler set in Runeterra. The Washington Post's 2024 report revealing its termination in late May—alongside 70-80 developers suddenly shifted to other projects—felt like seeing a promising champion concept scrapped right before PBE testing. 😔 What stings most is knowing Pool Party aimed to fix what Nintendo gets wrong: creating an eSports-friendly platform fighter where tournaments wouldn't get shut down arbitrarily. That vision resonated with my competitive spirit, making this cancellation a personal letdown.
🔥 What Made Pool Party Special
Unlike the upcoming 2XKO (a tag-team 2v2 fighter), Pool Party was reportedly designed as a chaotic, inclusive platform brawler—imagine Yasuo and Jinx bouncing off platforms like in Smash Ultimate! This casual approach initially thrilled me because it promised accessibility for my less hardcore friends while retaining LoL's iconic characters. But internal tensions brewed when developers pivoted toward "casual-friendly mechanics" and party elements. I get that frustration; it's like hyping up a ranked grind only to get matched with ARAM randomness. The project's ambition was noble though: to build an ecosystem where casual play and competitive tournaments coexisted peacefully—something Smash Bros. never fully embraced.
This 2XKO art gives me hope—but Pool Party's void still lingers
⚖️ Why Riot Pulled the Plug
The MultiVersus effect looms large here. Warner Bros.' 2023 beta collapse made Riot question Pool Party's viability, and honestly? It rattled me too. I'd played MultiVersus—its chaotic fun faded faster than a fed Master Yi—and seeing it flop created doubts. Riot's leadership reportedly feared insufficient player interest, which feels ironic given LoL's massive fanbase. Senior Director Joe Hixson's comment about "spinning projects up and down" being routine? Cold comfort. Half the team getting reassigned is pragmatic, but losing a passion project still feels like a Nexus explosion. This cautiousness mirrors trends across gaming: publishers chasing guaranteed hits over innovative gambles.
🌟 2XKO: The Fighting Game Hope
Thankfully, 2XKO survives—a 2025 beacon for competitive souls like me. Its 2v2 tag-team focus promises depth I crave, where synergy matters more than button-mashing. I'm already fantasizing about Darius-Garen combos! Pool Party's cancellation hasn't delayed it, proving Riot's commitment to diverse LoL experiences. Since 2019, eight spin-offs launched successfully:
| Year | Title | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ruined King | Turn-based RPG |
| 2023 | Song of Nunu | Adventure |
| 2024 | Bandle Tale | Crafting RPG |
| 2025 | 2XKO (upcoming) | Fighting |
This pipeline reassures me, but Pool Party's absence leaves a party-shaped hole no other title fills.
💭 My Personal Future Outlook
By 2026, I hope Riot revisits the platform fighter dream—but learns from this stumble. Imagine a reimagined project blending Pool Party's accessibility with 2XKO's polish, launching alongside cinematic events like Arcane Season 2. My ideal version? A free-to-play model with:
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Ranked ladders for tryhards 🏆
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Silly rotating modes (Think Urf-meets-Smash)
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Crossover skins from other Riot universes (Valorant agents, please!)
The LoL universe's richness deserves experimentation, even if some ventures fail. Pool Party's cancellation teaches us that bold ideas need unwavering conviction—not just reactions to competitors' stumbles. I'll still main 2XKO come 2025, but part of me will wonder what glorious chaos Pool Party could've unleashed.