2XKO is set to launch this year, but no release date has been confirmed. Initially teased in 2019 and officially revealed in 2021, Riot Games’ upcoming tag-team fighter has been progressing steadily. Featuring Champions from League of Legends, 2XKO has been making headlines for its exciting premise, distinct 2D art style, and easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master mechanics.
Following the end of the first at-home playtest in August 2024, the developers released a nearly hour-long gameplay update, showcasing Jinx, an updated UI, gameplay variety, and more. Shortly thereafter, on March 27, Game Director Shaun Rivera took to the game’s official Discord to share that 2XKO will launch with 10 Champions. While a smaller roster at launch may seem disappointing, it could have advantages, particularly when considering how important it is that 2XKO has a smooth launch.
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2XKO Has Set Ambitious Launch Goals
2XKO’s Development Timeline Has Been Lengthy
The wait has been far from short for those following along with 2XKO‘s prolonged development timeline. After Riot Games acquired Radiant Entertainment in March 2016, a few years later, it was made public that the developers were in the early stages of creating a fighting game for Riot Games. In February 2024, the game, previously code-named “Project L,” was revealed as 2XKO and announced for a 2025 release.
As such, the fighting game is alleged to have been in the works for around eight to nine years at this point. Some fans have expressed disappointment with the lengthy development cycle, noting that with only 10 playable characters at launch, signs indicate that it may take a similar amount of time for 2XKO to build a more robust roster. In addition, 2XKO has ambitious plans to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on day one, making it the first game in Riot Games’ history to do so.
By choosing to implement intricate Champion kits that stay true to a pre-existing character, along with the tag-team system, 2XKO may have set itself up for some clear advantages and challenges. The recognizable cast of characters from Runeterra, combined with the tag-team system, will likely make players eager for variety, especially since a core mechanic of the game allows them to ‘tag’ out their current character and switch to another Champion mid-fight. This is further emphasized by the fact that League of Legends is home to over 160 characters. Unfortunately, the depth and complexity of the Champions results in a lengthy development process, which may make it challenging for the developers to keep up with demand.
Why 2XKO’s Smaller Launch Roster Is Advantageous
It is worth noting that in the same Discord update from March 27, Shaun Rivera mentioned that he and the team felt that they would rather include fewer Champions at launch rather than “delaying the release date.” He mentioned that a perk of 2XKO being a live-service fighting game means “that it will only get better from there via new Champion releases and gameplay updates” over time. As of the most recent update, 2XKO will feature the following playable Champions:
- Ahri
- Braum
- Darius
- Ekko
- Illaoi
- Jinx
- Yasuo
Only seven Champions are confirmed for the Alpha Lab 2 playtest, with three to be expected by the official launch of 2XKO.
Ultimately, Riot Games’ decision to release a more limited roster in the beginning should be taken as good news for those hoping for a fine-tuned game at launch. Furthermore, it seems that weaving more characters into the game could lead the game to miss its 2025 release date, meaning this approach could help ensure 2XKO stays on track for its targeted launch. In the meantime, players can sign up for 2XKO‘s second at-home playtest, which begins on April 18 and is available for participants in Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
