Riot Games Reportedly Scraps Smash Bros.-inspired Fighting Game

Riot Games has decided not to move forward with the release of a Super Smash Bros. style fighter game codenamed Pool Party. According to journalist Mikhail Klimentov, the game was set in the League of Legends universe and had a team of approximately 70-80 developers working on a prototype before it was cancelled.

Sources claim that Riot executives were uncertain about the demand for a game that would rival Super Smash Bros., with Warner’s free-to-play crossover fighter, MultiVersus, influencing their decision. Originally envisioned as a hardcore fighting game, Pool Party was shifted to incorporate elements of a party game and more casual-friendly mechanics. This change in direction reportedly frustrated some staff who were working on the project.

Riot’s senior communications director, Joe Hixson, stated, “We always have a number of projects in various phases of R&D, and spinning projects up and down happens multiple times a year.” Around half of the team working on the game have reportedly been offered reassignments within the studio, while most others are considering applying for internal roles.

In related news, Riot announced in February that their new League of Legends fighting game, previously known as Project L, is officially titled 2XKO. The 2v2 tag-based fighter is set to release next year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.