Meet the team behind Riot Games' Project L (2XKO)

We go behind the scenes of Riot Games' Project L (now known as 2XKO) to meet the team behind the League of Legends fighting game and learn what it takes to make such an ambitious game
Produced by Esteban Martinez @Holdbacktoblock and Benjamin Winter
Videography by @nilpholan and Vinny Minton
Special thanks to Ben Forbes and Nate Herrera
Chapters
0:00 Building the Project L team
1:58 Turning a MOBA champion into a fighter
4:06 Challenges of a tag fighter
5:44 What's it like to show Project L at Evo?
#EvoFGC
#ProjectL
#fightinggames

[@EvoFGC]

Are you excited for Project L?

[@Ion0X]

Indeed I am. I'm just a waiting for them to reveal my boy Sett so I can absolutely OBLITERATE people.

[@Generalsiris]

Nah

[@aarontopacio3913]

No. Cause it already died down for taking it too long.

[@somehowrockingfloor3395]

This shit is gonna explode for sure!

[@tin7139]

Hell yea! Can't wait for it to come out.

[@The0KUltra]

Seeing this posted on the same day Riot announces mass layoffs is wild

[@symphonixblades]

None of the Project L team has been laid of so far , it was mostly Legends of Runeterra that suffered with laid ofs , some League of Legends devs as well , the mmo team is also safe from it

[@Trockenmatt]

What an abysmal day to post this

[@MeroFuruyaSankarea]

Why lol

[@Jerler91]

I think they're just confirming this project is still alive. Now just need to know about the mmo. Still yeah, sucks about Forge.

[@ghostkill221]

??? Did your cat die?

[@spenzero7266]

To the people asking why, riot just laid off 500 devs

[@whyareyoubothering]

Pretty unlikely that project L got hit but we’ll see soon enough.

[@joshf5733]

I love the clear passion the team has for this game, you can tell they're trying to think about everything top to bottom and not do what already been done. I can't wait to play.

[@DrMudkingFGC]

This game could really be a huge opportunity to bring a lot of new people into FGs.

[@SlyI42]

And for Lol, but that doesn't sound so good 💀

[@hamedori]

​@@SlyI42 Nah, you can definitely enjoy League's universe even without touching the MOBA at all. There's so much stuff to see from Arcane, the plethora of music and videos, single player games like the one for Sylas, and many more. Literally everything Riot creates surrounding League is amazing, except the actual game which is the lowest form of dogwater.

[@BagmenXL]

i second this as someone who used to play league alot. the lore was really the only thing that kept me updated on league but then arcane happened and i was just like mmm chefs kiss. and their trailers are so crazy@@hamedori

[@enzogeee]

​@@SlyI42 league had tyler the fgc had LTG both genres are competitive everyone gonna get salty

[@El-Burrito]

Aside from Tekken 8, this is easily my most anticipated fighting game. The fact that it still doesn't have a name makes me think it's going to release next year but I have no idea. I just want to get my hands on it!

[@EvoFGC]

If you happen to be at Evo Japan this year, it'll be playable!

[@majormelthesackboy]

The fact this dropped the same day riot lays off staff

[@Itachi17509]

pft, the fact that this didnt hide our discuntent dude, I was expecting Projecct L news and I jut got this video 3 days after release cause the drama trnd more than this.

[@cheesepotato5753]

the fact that you care is weird, layoffs arent rare over hiring is a thing mistakes happen

[@trucomment]

people who care are weird, only give a shit if this game is fun.

[@Rickfernello]

This is really cool! I'm shocked it didn't get more attention, it's the most info we've had about this game for a while.

[@Grux_ASG]

Ive been checking for project L info since the last big drop. 5months and we get this, thank you

[@gabecommunication431]

Loving these videos so far hope they keep up the pace 😊

[@EvoFGC]

Thank you!

[@ADirtyEwok]

Videos have been great so far, looking forward to more! Loved what the lead champion designer had to say about implementing the characters in a fighting game, by the way: to treat the moba version as an abstraction and try to make a fully fleshed out "real" version now. Super wise approach that I think bodes well for the game!

[@EvoFGC]

Thank you so much!

[@MadMikeYT]

I actually got to try this game at EVO last year and it was a blast! Communicating with my partner on when to switch in and out so that the other could fight was epic!

[@richr161]

how does it play? whats the closest game to it?

[@diinx7089]

​@@richr161it really doesn't have a single game i'd say it resembles completely with..feels like a mix of bbtag,power rangers and mvci..but power rangers is the closet thing but if you have played tag games i don't think you would have a hard time

[@shmups_hobby]

Putting the scanlines on the arcade games is a VERY classy touch. Bravo.

[@uwabamiJohnny]

Unfortunate timing this video came out the day riot announced layoffs

[@deltacosmic5358]

Luckily they seemingly didnt layoff anyone working on project L

[@deltacosmic5358]

Luckily they seemingly didnt layoff anyone working on project L

[@DjXyanyde]

Absolutely love the deep dive, I already knew the game was in good hands but this only makes me even more excited to check it out.

[@EvoFGC]

Thanks for watching!

[@rooflemonger]

Lord Jaffe thank you for admitting the Project L version of the characters are actually the real versions 🙊

[@georgegkoumas5026]

Fighting games on top?! 🔝🤔

[@captainziggy82]

They say that with every other game haha

[@alexn572]

Patiently waiting for that Beta

[@dashedtardis4506]

Not really into anything LoL but man like so many other people have said you can really just see the passion of the developers and that is what makes me really want to play!! cant wait!

[@rynctbg]

Super excited for this game! As someone who played a lot of LoL back in the day and loves the FGC, this is a dream project! I especially can't wait for all the non-FGC creators to be introduced into the space!

[@jessezondlewski2597]

Bro! kindred would rock in this setting, having Lamb with ranged attacks, and Wolf handling melee.

[@carlos41519]

This is the first time I’ve been excited for a fighting game in a long time!! This game is bringing me back frfr

[@finfen9730]

Ignore the haters, using the IP in this genre is a great idea. I'm not into the MOBA anymore but still love the characters and universe so it's a great way for me and my friends to jump back in. Still waiting for a proper beta so we can give feedback.

[@theolong6689]

Bro wtf is this artstyel.... I am in love

[@bloodCount8895]

I worked as a designer on Mortal Kombat and Injustice for 10+ years. I would love to work on Project L!!!

[@adrianpaul3749]

you should most def check the job openings available at riot or just find a way to send your cv, ur expertise might be valuable

[@captainziggy82]

Really hope we get some more character updates soon, feels like we’ve seen the same 4 to 5 since the reveal… (I know about Illaoi, would like to see ingame)

[@Jay-mx5ky]

We're still waiting on another playable demonstration for Jinx and some other confirmed characters that are cooking, so hopefully, that comes soon, too. Jinx was the first playable character revealed, I'm a bit surprised she hasn't showed up yet.

[@symphonixblades]

Evo Japan 2024 is coming in April , I think we will get news 1 day before just like last year

[@undyne1]

As much as I dread League, as fighting game fanatics, my dad and I are looking forward to getting our hands on Project L. Its one of the few things we get to bond over.

[@RiverOpossum]

I think Bel'Veth and Nafiri would be great characters to add to the game from some of the newer released champions.

[@cyrusiithegreat2824]

I cant imagine a 4 legs character in a fighting games, how will it work ?

[@spamminspiff7685]

@@cyrusiithegreat2824Amaterasu in MvC3 immediately comes to mind. It’s not hard to put a 4-legged fighter in a fighting game, it just takes a designer who knows what they’re doing.

[@Mclucasrv]

So its just me that find funny this was released together with the massive layoffs at riot?

[@symphonixblades]

Well no dev from both the mmo and Project L team has been laid of so far

[@LimitRX]

Excited for this game

[@serg64laceup]

This looks insane cant wait to lab this game

[@FreakyPiggy]

Cant wait to play it. This game is a Massiv upgrade for Fighting games

[@evilded2]

LET'S GO PROJET L STUFF!!

[@EvoFGC]

LET'S GOOOO

[@jwonggg]

Please don’t nerf Ahri 😅

[@mydrillasanjay5397]

BUFF DRAVEN RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@jaeaik]

Pat is simply the goat when it comes to teaching players. I genuinely feel like I have leaped from one point to another after readinga few of his articles, and just overall being patient with myself. Glad he's on the Project L team.

[@reyvagabond3344]

The game looks sweet, and 40 year old fighting game enthusiast I'm really looking forward to this game.

[@TheCrimsonCat89]

THATS ME AT 6:00 WITH THE RED BANDANNA PLAYING WITH MY GF (face is behind the monitor lol) and 2 friends we met! Thanks so much! I represent the Gamers Guild in CT we would love to collab and keep in touch!

[@Morshoes]

I saw you on screen and immediately thought "IT'S RYU!!!!"

[@videogamesruinedmylife3769]

this game looks amazing cant wait!

[@saranghaketheeswaran9215]

What a beautiful looking game. 😍

[@korylewis9913]

This is BY FAR! The best time to be in the FGC! With all these 10/10 fighting games out within a year of each other......And all I want to do is play Project L......COME OUT WITH AT LEAST A DEMO!!!!!

[@NewbPhil]

I want duos in Project L to take off, I really hope that it becomes a standard right beside 1v1. Going past 2v2 into 3v3 is too much, but I think a well-designed 2v2 fighting game mode that brings teamwork into FGs is long overdue; if anyone is gonna pull it off, it's Riot, the question is just if it will be "officially" supported (tournaments) or if it will stay as a sort of party mode.

[@xxdrbadassxx]

Would love to see Sett and Gnar in this👀

[@nick50107]

How many of these people in this vid alone did these ghouls just lay off

[@minnelcandelario6893]

Their not affected since project L is main project while LoR fail financially, the lay offs might even speed up some other projects

[@dankmemes8254]

​@@minnelcandelario6893surely some of the lay-offs were working on it to some extent

[@minnelcandelario6893]

@@dankmemes8254 maybe we really can't tell unless where on riot but remember project L is still on priority so it's counter productive to remove man power there.

[@techattack6803]

I'm here for Mike Henry!

[@andrewpenny4676]

So any hints on the next champ coming to project L?

[@red5089]

Launch the game pleaseeeee!! 😭

[@The4stro]

I absolutely cannot wait. I wonder when's the release date when there's still no official name

[@areyouajoketome6679]

probably late 2024 at the very earliest but honestly it’s looking like sometime in 2025. i’m happy they’re really cooking with this project cos i’ve spent so much time playing league and FGs are my favourite.

[@mrk0per]

I have decided that when this launches, I'm gonna take 2 weeks from work, buy a LOT of frozen pizzas and just ROT inside this game.

[@davidayala3101]

Cant wait

[@itzblacknred]

And this gets reccomended right after they're fired.

[@fifonefifty]

Hmmmmm this game might be super hype and fun

[@andrewg9107]

Aweesome looks fun but its old seeing the same 4 characters, can we get some more reveals?

[@lippemartinsm]

With the speed they are showing things one would presume they're going to release the game in 2030

[@symphonixblades]

Evo Japan 2024 is in April , more news will definitely show up with most likely another dev update 1 day before Evo

[@landonhulett2119]

This is one of my most anticipated fighting game titles. If waiting 4 to 5 years for this game to be the best fighting game of all time, I say let them cook.

[@Ion0X]

I'm really really really looking forward to this game. I hope we get more stuff soon. Also I'm really liking this channel. Stuff like this is dope.

[@jetherfirstruiz4194]

🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🔥 i hope there will be a huge tournament here in Philippines

[@reklom2334]

Maybe I'm out of the loop but they have only talking about marketing and mechanics, but there are a lot of social aspects they haven't addressed for this game that I think ultimately will decide it's playerbase growth 1) is 2v2 a separate game mode from 1v1? This question comes from the idea that 2v2 (actual player controlling not number of character per side) is the main game mode being marketed. And while it has been shown in a local setting that you can go 2v1 or 1v1 freely, that may or may not be the case in online (which would be the primary space the game will take place for casuals). If 2v1 scenarios are allowed online (and they are same mode as 2v2), aren't there balancing issues from that aspect alone? 2) in the same root question, if 2v2 is a dedicated mode, and then there is a separate mode for other setups (2v1, and 1v1) how does connecting to other players in the 2v2 work? If they want the most players per hour, then waiting for your friend to go online just to go 2v2 isn't a ideal situation. So the likely picture they have in mind is connecting with randoms with the option of player invites (like most other multiplayer games). But there in lies a bigger question, currently, swapping places mid match/combo is up to the character/player currently on screen no? That means if you have a random teammate, there is a possibility they never tag you in for the entire match. And the golden rule of online gaming is that if there's a way for people to be toxic, you can bet there is a good amount of people doing it 2b) along with this, how does communication work for online? For a fast fighting game where coordination is crucial for combos, you can't rely on just text, so mic's have to be a thing. If mic's are indeed a thing online, is it always on? You can't really do that due to either again toxicity, accessibility, and or privacy reasons. So how do you foster an environment that allows communicating between your random teammate that allows for no mic and not end up a toxic shit storm that ends up you or them trolling by never swapping them in? they key point for all these questions is that besides getting into the fighting game space. One of the objectives (like many other fgs before it) is addressing the problem of increasing playerbase by decreasing skill floor but not decreasing skill ceiling. And creating a game that more people can get into. Without addressing all the social problems for a team-based with assist 2v2, the playerbase is either gonna get toxic real fast that FGC might as well not bother with it, or the players themselves start leaving

[@akn.gaming]

Super excited for Project L! Can't wait for more news!

[@Vivek-Goel_Superfan]

5:59 blud's tuned in lmfao

[@mydrillasanjay5397]

When you buggin but you gotta lock in

[@BaS12241]

Bro i swear to god when Alex Jaffe started to speak, i thought it was Phreak speaking, i was like: The fuck is Phreak doing here? yes he is in the balance team now but i didnt knew he played fighting games, then i saw who was really speaking and everything when back to normal, Alex's voice sound so much like Phreak's, i wouldnt mind if he was the announcer of the game, you know give OG League players some flashbacks to the Phreak casting times

[@turnadraco]

luckly, the people in the video didn't get laid off. but no doubt that some people working on project L did... riot did state that the game is still work in progress n that the making IS going smoothly. but idk...

[@OccuredJakub12]

For everyone's information, the recent layoffs were only in the Riot Forge area, Project L had none and apparently the development is still going smoothly!

[@nobodywashere3123]

Ngl this rings kinda hollow in the wake of the dismantling of riot forge. I was so excited for this game, but now I'm scared it'll just get canned like everything else. The idea of getting every champ is just a pipedream now.

[@joncliffmckinley5868]

that was always a pipedream, bro. no FG gonna have 150+ characters

[@GlabRudzinski]

Did we meet any of the 500 people Riot laid off? Genius play there.

[@murillomesmo8189]

530 lay-offs + the ppl from the lore team that they made quit after riot decided to throw all of their work away to favor marketing (but don't worry any of their decisions to fire ppl and focus on doing more money with less work is to please sharholders)

[@coolmedina117]

They gotta change the name of handshake tag to flash tag

[@ianpalma8168]

SNK should hire this guys to do the next kof, samurai shodown, fatal fury games.

[@dtalg]

im sad that if jinx ever gets added she will probably be a zoner. But her passive would be great for a rush down character like maybe some moves taking less frames as she gets more "excited" or even just giving her more movement too stick on the opponent.

[@ShadowKiller71]

She’s already a confirmed character, the moves we saw didn’t seem like zoning.

[@dtalg]

@@ShadowKiller71 thanks for commenting this she looks awesomeee

[@tombstone909]

How will the layoffs affect project l?

[@symphonixblades]

It doesn’t so far , the game that had most lay offs was Legends of Runeterra ( the card game ) , mmo and Project L team for now are safe

[@onan5785]

hell yeah

[@Dane-7]

Did you just release a video about how incredible your developers are on the exact same day you announced you'll be firing 530 of them ?

[@txsnowman]

Theyre paying them 6 months salary and benefits. They wont have trouble finding new jobs with developer at Riot on their resumes. Stuff like this happens when a large business decides to shift around priorities. I think Riot is being incredibly fair with their severance

[@Dane-7]

@@txsnowman Damn son, you were only supposed to lick the boot not make an entire meal out of it.

[@txsnowman]

@@Dane-7 Youre a clown lol. There is no definition of boot licking that would include seeing a company pay 6 months worth of salary and benefits as severance pay. Thats like the best possible outcome outside of letting them keep their job. If they cant find a job in 6 months then they probably werent that great to begin with. if my boss told me I was fired but id get all my pay and benefits for 6 months id be fucking ecstatic while I took a 2 month fully paid vacation before I started my 4 month job search.

[@TheNobleFive]

​@@Dane-7 There's nothing wrong about what they said lol. A business has to be able to fire people if they need to and 6 months with benefits is a great safety net.

[@Joltman11]

Given that Esteban and the Evo staff who worked on this video don’t work at Riot, I would imagine they probably didn’t have any role in firing Riot’s employees.

[@GarredHATES]

Teemo better be in this game

[@percival4554]

Was this the team before or after the layoffs...

[@symphonixblades]

Still the same team m both the mmo and Project L teams are safe from the lay offs so far

[@nazeres1]

with the mass layoffs and the amount of time this game has been in development hell, I've gotten more worried over time whenever this will release, especially with Street fighter and Tekken running the genre right now.

[@FriedHedgehogBalls]

Street fighter and Tekken running the genre forever

[@Mene0]

Cool af

[@FlavortownG]

when?

[@littlerainy3453]

3:32 Also, Yasuo's voice does NOT sound like Liam O'Brian's doing it. Its either a very weird take or they really just threw the iconic voice of Yasuo for so many years away too.

[@user-re4vj8yz9r]

Is Project L still going ahead after all the bad Riot news?

[@symphonixblades]

Yes both the MMO and the Project L team didn’t get lay offs it was mostly Legends of Runeterra devs , some League devs including a good League lore writer ( idk why they got rid of that writer he was a good one ) and maybe some Valorant devs (not sure about that one )

[@TheGOATRammus]

If rammus isnt in it I will not be OK.

[@stevenbarnes6577]

Where is the Maximillian Dood video?!

[@jordanjoestar76]

I played this at EVO. MK1 was cool but nothing incredible tbh. Tekken is just more mashing until youre playing at a pro level. THIS GAME IS FUN AF and I look forward to playing again! Had fun winning my matches with a random cool dude. 🤝 I like the way the Lead champ designer thinks.🧠 👏👏👏

[@jordanarce9581]

Finally a Fighting game that you can also blame your team mate

[@drenerd510]

bro the fact that riot made valorant, it was their first ever FPS game and its taking over esports. i believe its gonna be the same for project L aswell

[@aR0ttenBANANA]

I'm never a fan of tag FGs except for Marvel vs. Capcom but at least it looks beautiful.

[@AsylumFade]

I really hope they stick with the f2p and rollback plan they have for this game, because if they do this game can have a really solid start

[@corn-cob-gaming]

I think we're good on the rollback. The guys that MADE rollback are on the team

[@AsylumFade]

@@corn-cob-gaming holy shit fr? I didn’t know that lmfao

[@glass12]

F2P with rollback and crossplay will get them millions of users. Just what they need on launch

[@AsylumFade]

@@glass12 thats a good point there too, if they have cross play on launch, this could do really well.

[@HunterMask1507]

Congrats on this team for surviving the Layoffs

[@peterfranko]

I wonder who survived the 11% layoffs

[@catgaming381]

See you in the rift

[@trucomment]

people got laid off lol ripbozos, cant wait to play this

[@Kervvy_]

I think you guys forgot to announce a release date

[@unmer3306]

Putting a lot of work and money into graphics for a game they're going to change the name of.

[@ragerontilt4778]

I want a metal gear rising revengance Yasuo game

[@JYMBO]

I know it's just a placeholder name but i think this game should actually keep Project L as the name

[@HowdaHurDaguY]

I didn't mention this a while ago, but tagging in characters should definitely be called lane swapping.

[@Harryhaidao]

No.

[@happypepper9326]

The official name when?

[@falcon383]

Very excited for project L, really hoping the layoffs don’t hit hard and you still have enough resources to deliver a product up to your standard

[@rotsu2108]

was about to say this, after hearing about the layoffs i was so worried project L was gonna get canned. heres hoping for the best!

[@tj_puma]

I was blessed to be at evo and experience this. As a Diamond lvl league player, and semi-pro lvl umvc3 player, this game has been my DREAM since announcement. This event was absolutely satisfying, I had a perfect experience with me and my casual gamer gf as a duo. Super fun stuff, super intuitive, and can’t wait to get this game in my hands! Great work 🔥

[@guisd2]

give me a release date admin, i won't tell anyone i promisse..........................

[@Macronaso]

With all the layoffs and cancellations announced today and no mention of Project L I do wonder about its future...

[@TheNobleFive]

Isn't this a mention of project L?

[@tehawsumninja]

Wow, I wonder how many of these people are left :)

[@ursmarrings27]

Great vid, but honestly awkward time to post this.

[@bol0921]

the pressure to make this game widely enjoyable so riot doesn't can it an layoff everyone.... oh man

[@alexanderson4338]

What team? Why aren’t there people in this video