Kinda Funny Games Daily — February 10, 2026

Episode: “2XKO Already Dead?! – Kinda Funny Games Daily 02.10.26”
Hosts: Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller & Blessing Adeoye Jr.
Key Topics: 2XKO layoffs & future, Romeo Is a Dead Man review, Overwatch’s Anran redesign, Monster Hunter updates, and more.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the bombshell surrounding Riot Games’ 2XKO—with layoffs hitting weeks after launch, the hosts unpack what this means for the fighting game, community confidence, and Riot’s future strategy. They also share Blessing’s review of Romeo Is a Dead Man, discuss Overwatch’s response to controversy over the character Anran, and hit the latest updates from Monster Hunter and upcoming fighting games. The chemistry is high, the banter is lively, and the podcast brings both humor and a critical lens to today’s big news in gaming.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2XKO in Trouble: Major Layoffs and Confidence Crisis

[09:56 – 26:27]

• Riot Games lays off ~80 staff from 2XKO just three weeks after the game’s launch, citing lackluster momentum and the need to “reshape the team for a more sustainable path.”
  • [11:06] “The people who helped ship 2XKO poured years of creativity... Taking creative risks like this is hard... We are committed to supporting impacted rioters throughout this transition…” — Tom Cannon, via Greg Miller reading Riot’s statement.
• Community confusion: Even hardcore fans (and the hosts) struggled with whether the game was in “beta,” “early access,” or a true 1.0 launch.
  • [14:41] "From an outsider perspective... I’ve been very lost on: is 2XKO in beta, early access, a full launch?" — Greg
• Content shortfall: At launch, 2XKO had only 12 playable characters, which was seen as inadequate for a modern tag-based fighter, especially compared to competitors like Street Fighter 6 or Tekken 8.
  • [15:23] “For a tag fighter, I think you want way more than 10 characters... for me it doesn’t feel like a damn, this is a big new fighting game.” — Blessing
• Marketing missteps: The staggered and unclear rollout (PC in November as a “beta,” then full console release) failed to build hype and a unified player base.
• League of Legends crossover flop:
  • [17:22] “The League bubble is probably the most insulated of all gaming bubbles… There was no way they were ever going to cross over to 2XKO.” — JBC (Listener comment, discussed on air)
  • [18:08] "It’s going to be so tough to try and usher an audience that is playing a MOBA [into] a fighting experience…” — Blessing
• Community anxiety: Players are now hesitant to invest in learning 2XKO’s systems, worried Riot may shut it down.
  • [20:07] “We are all waiting to see what they plan to do next. We’re not sure if we want to invest more hours if it’s going to be shut down.” — Claw Master (Listener)
• Gameplay & design criticism:
  • No-motion input controls divide the player base:
    • [21:35] “The no motion inputs was a weird one for me… it doesn’t click in my brain when I go from other fighting games to 2XKO.” — Blessing
• Hosts’ predictions:
  • Greg takes a “pizza bet” predicting 2XKO will be shut down within two years: [23:16] “I’d say the next two years, they shut down 2XKO. There you go, Herbie. I want my pizza.”
  • Blessing less certain: [26:06] “I think Riot has enough pride to stick this thing out for at least a little bit. Let’s get to Evo at least.”
• Memorable Moment: Greg and Blessing’s “Suda 51 5.5 cult classic game” gag in discussing niche versus mainstream. [61:29+]

2. Blessing’s Review: Romeo Is a Dead Man

[30:34 – 41:36]

• Score: 5.5 out of 10 (“but I love it!”)
  • [31:59] "It is a 5.5 out of 10… and the 0.5 is the fact that I love it." — Blessing
• Why the mixed feelings?
  • Unrefined but packed with Suda51 weirdness. The game is buggy, visually rough, and recycles levels, but it’s memorable and “has more charm than a lot of 8/10s I’ve played.” [40:56]
  • [32:07] "It’s messy all over the place... but can’t describe how true [Suda’s] 'class clown' description is.”
  • Combat and pacing can get repetitive, mechanics like the “bastard” system are clunky, and performance issues abound (notably on PS5—see video shown at [36:39]).
  • But — frequent art shifts, comedy, and unexpected twists deliver classic Suda51 personality. [37:33]
• Summary: It’s a cult game through and through — not technically great, but worth it for fans of oddball indie games.
  • [41:21] "The sauce is over-seasoned...the sauce doesn't have much budget behind it. But it's hitting for me." — Blessing

3. Overwatch Anran Backlash & Redesign

[41:36 – 46:41]

• Context: New Overwatch hero Anran’s model was changed from her older, fierce design to a younger, more conventional look — prompting fan and voice actor uproar about representation.
• Voice actor Faria lamented:
  • [43:22] “…an unspoken promise that said we’re going to challenge the beauty standards plaguing and ransacking the media these days…”
• Blizzard responds by promising a new redesign that’s more true to the original concept.
• Hosts’ take: Blizzard listened and are making the right move by addressing community and internal feedback. [45:16]

4. Monster Hunter & Industry News

[46:41 – 49:32]

• Monster Hunter Wilds:
  • Capcom will announce a “large-scale expansion” this summer, akin to ICEBORNE or SUNBREAK. [47:56]
  • Blessing asks if State of Play is overcrowded—with Monster Hunter news likely going to Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest instead.
• Other news in quick hits (Wii News):
  • [52:21]–[53:26] Black Myth: Wukong’s latest showcase, Directive 8020 launching May 12, Ubisoft union strikes, Remedy (Control dev) appoints ex-EA exec as CEO, Control reaches 5M copies sold, Replace & Planet of Lana 2 demos incoming.
• Fantasy Critic banter: Ongoing fantasy league chatter about risky picks (e.g. Jonathan Blow, Disco Elysium devs, unannounced God of War by “Team Barrett,” etc.) [06:01–08:32]

5. Marvel TuKun, Fighting Game Releases, and Upcoming Titles

[49:32 – 51:27]

• Marvel TuKun Fighting Souls: Launches with 20 playable characters (not enough for some given 4v4 format), 64-player lobbies, and single-player episode mode — details likely leaked early ahead of State of Play.
  • [50:41] “I feel like 20 characters might not be enough for this game. This is a 4v4 tag, you might have almost half the roster in one match.” — Blessing
• Upcoming PlayStation “State of Play” anticipated to be packed with news.
• [51:55] “Don’t be afraid to dream!” — Blessing to Greg on Metal Gear collection hopes
• [62:21] On why games with mass appeal (Mario Tennis) get more coverage than cult classics (Romeo Is a Dead Man): “We’re an 11-person small business trying to survive in a crowded media landscape.” — Greg

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [17:22] “The League bubble is probably the most insulated of all gaming bubbles…I don’t think League players care about fighting games…” — JBC & Blessing (on 2XKO’s audience challenge)
• [20:07] “Fighting games are work…If there’s doubt this game will be around in four, five, six months…that’s going to kill it.” — Blessing
• [26:06] “I don’t think this shuts down in the next six months. I think Riot is too…they have enough pride to stick this thing out for at least a little bit. Let’s get to Evo at least.” — Blessing
• [31:59] "It is a 5.5 out of 10…and the 0.5 is the fact that I love it." — Blessing
• [40:56] “As a game that I’m giving a 5.5 out of 10… it has more charm… and is more memorable to me than a lot of 8 out of 10s I’ve played.” — Blessing
• [41:21] “The sauce is over-seasoned… it’s just that the sauce is not that expensive… but it’s hitting for me…” — Blessing (describing Romeo Is a Dead Man)
• [62:21] “We’re an 11-person small business trying to survive in a crowded media landscape.” — Greg (on content decisions and coverage)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 2XKO Layoffs & Discussion: [09:56 – 26:27]
• Romeo is a Dead Man Review: [30:34 – 41:36]
• Overwatch Anran Redesign: [41:36 – 46:41]
• Monster Hunter & Quick Fire News: [46:41 – 49:32], [52:21–53:26]
• Marvel TuKun & Fighting Games: [49:32–51:27]
• Patreon/fantasy league/banter: various, [6:01–8:32], [53:36+]
• Community Superchat Qs & Extended Banter: [55:13–61:22]
• Wrap-up/Meta Discussion: [61:22–end]

Tone, Vibe, and Flow

• Humorous, candid, critical—Greg and Blessing mix playful jabs and memes with thoughtful, industry-insider analysis.
• Deep dives into current headlines, always grounded in how player communities are feeling.
• Frequent asides on content creation, audience realities, and what it means to be a small media team.
• Lots of interaction with live chat and superchats—highlighting Kinda Funny’s strong community engagement (especially on fighting games, fitness, and industry in-jokes).

Final Thoughts

A lively episode that captures the current moment in gaming: uncertain launches, shifting fan bases, the rise and fall of niche hits, and the ongoing drama of live service games. For fighting game fans, indie weirdos, and anyone following the pulse of game industry news, this episode is a can’t-miss.