New Riot MMO? Studio Teases Project After Shutting 2XKO

Riot Games is going full steam ahead with new projects. Co-founder Marc Merrill just revealed an MMO he calls ‘The Grail’ at PAX West, and netizens are abuzz. Here’s a recap of everything we know about the game so far.

‘The Grail’: Riot Games is Building a New MMO

Riot Games has a star-studded release lineup. With successful games like VALORANT, League of Legends, and Teamfight Tactics under its belt, the studio has enough household-name recognition to jump-start any new venture.

On September 5, the company’s co-founder Marc Merrill announced in a PAX West storytime that gamers can expect another project in the future: this time, an MMO. In an interview, he stated:

“We know what players’ hopes and dreams are… it’s just on us as a team and people, can we succeed on execution?”

What is the New Riot MMO Called?

PAX interviewers asked Merrill if the MMO has a title or release date yet. Though he didn’t reveal the official name, Merrill said the team calls it ‘The Grail’ internally. He jokingly said this is because “you know, we’re like, many a brave knight is going to die on the grail quest… but it’s the grail, so let’s go.”

“That’s the mindset we really try to cultivate,” he continued.

So about that MMO we’re building…@MarcMerrill on chasing the grail during his @PAX storytime. pic.twitter.com/0OE1DpRIIx

— Riot Games (@riotgames) September 5, 2026

This isn’t an uncommon phenomenon: in-progress games often have temporary titles during development. After all, a lot of importance is in a name. It can affect marketing, branding, and key features, so it’s a big decision. For example, 2XKO was called ‘Project L’ for a while, before fans knew its true identity.

When Will the Riot MMO Release?

We don’t know an exact release date for the MMO yet. However, Merrill said, “I think we’re doing a reasonable job, and I think the future is incredibly bright.”

What Else Do We Know About the Riot MMO?

Since this is one of the first official reveals of the project, there’s not much else we know for sure. However, there are a few key pieces of context to keep in mind.

First, World of Warcraft would likely be the Riot MMO’s main competitor. With millions of players and over two decades of activity, beating this Blizzard title will not be an easy feat. However, this same-genre takeover is possible and has happened before: take NetEase and Marvel Rivals’ venture into the hero FPS space. Blizzard’s development has notably attracted dissatisfaction from fans in recent years; NetEase capitalized on this by specifically ironing out player pain points in Marvel Rivals to court fans. Ultimately, both games have benefited from the move with more frequent updates and free items. It’s possible Riot could follow the same strategy.

It’s also possible, but not confirmed, that the MMO could share the same universe as another Riot title. This is purely speculative, but would not be unheard of since Teamfight Tactics and 2XKO both draw inspiration from the Runeterra universe.

Netizens React

Though gamers are excited for Riot’s MMO project, they also have some uncertainty. Much of this stems from 2XKO’s recent fate, since Riot shuttered the game after it recieved lower-than-expected engagement.

User @Yosepfgc immediately replied to Riot’s announcement, bringing 2XKO up: “So about that Fighting Game we killed…”

What Happened to 2XKO?

The League of Legends-inspired title, set in its same Runeterra universe, garnered similar anticipation upon its 2024 announcement. It featured fan-favorite champions like Jinx, Vi, Ekko, Ahri, and Lux. The project stayed open for a year, gathering a small but devoted fanbase.

However, in August 2026, Riot unexpectedly announced 2XKO’s closure, stating they would keep game servers up but would not continue updates after the year ended. The move was widely controversial in the gaming community, and some gamers are concerned the upcoming MMO could experience the same fate. Fans are hesitant to invest in a title if they don’t know how long it will last.

As much as I do look forward to it, I'm not so sure about its life cycle… are you guys just gonna pull the plug 6 months in just like yall did with 2XKO?

— 桃ウサギ 🐇🍑🪽|COMMS OPEN| (@peach_bunns) September 5, 2026

Many commenters are expressing these concerns. @peach_bunns offers a nuanced take: “As much as I do look forward to it, I’m not so sure about its life cycle... are you guys just gonna pull the plug 6 months in just like yall did with 2XKO?”

Streamer @Voltaictv writes, “You guys have to win a lot of players trust back if you can. Myself and many many others are afraid of your track record of canceling games that dont make billions of revenue. Makes us not want to invest time into this MMO.”

Only one chance at first impressions and MMOs need initial critical mass to snowball, I hope they nail the release.

— Azer Dugalić (@Azzapp_LoL) September 5, 2026

Vel’Koz legend Azzapp was one well-known face who popped in to offer his take. “Only one chance at first impressions and MMOs need initial critical mass to snowball, I hope they nail the release,” he cautioned. A skillshot hitting straight to the point, as usual.

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