Ever wondered when you can dive into the thrilling world of 2XKO? This 2D fighting game, previously known as Project L, finally got its official name in early 2024. Get ready to brawl with iconic League of Legends champions like Yasuo, Darius, and Braum!
More than just a name change, 2XKO has evolved into an exciting 2v2 tag-team experience, bringing mechanics that will feel right at home for fans of classic fighting games like Marvel vs Capcom. If you’re eager to learn all about this highly anticipated League of Legends fighting game, read on for the latest updates on its release date and more.
When Can You Play 2XKO? Our Release Date Outlook
The 2XKO release date was originally scheduled for 2025, but with the announcement of the early access launch, it looks like the full release has been postponed. Based on what we know about the seasonal content, there’s a good chance 2xKO officially launches at the end of 2026. 2XKO is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
During an April 2025 livestream with fighting game content creator Rooflemonger, 2XKO game director Shaun Rivera enthusiastically confirmed a 2025 launch, stating, “Hell yeah, we’re launching in 2025. I’m hearing nothing but love and just ‘let me play the game, let me get in there’. So yeah, absolutely.” It’s now understood that Rivera was referring to the early access launch, rather than the complete game release.
Dive In Early: 2XKO Early Access Details
The 2XKO early access release date is set for Tuesday, October 7, 2025, exclusively for PC players initially. Although the full game is slated for PlayStation 5 and Xbox, Riot Games has yet to announce when console players can join the 2v2 tag-team action during this early phase.
This early access announcement comes as no shock to the dedicated closed beta testers who have been battling it out since early September. Apart from a few minor balancing tweaks needed for Blitzcrank, 2XKO’s performance has been remarkably smooth, sidestepping the common server and connection woes often seen in new multiplayer titles.
The early access period for 2XKO will commence immediately after the closed beta concludes. A significant change from previous playtests is that all progress made during early access will seamlessly carry over to the full release. Players can look forward to new cosmetics through a battle pass, alongside dedicated combo trials for every champion. Furthermore, Riot has confirmed a schedule of five seasons per year, each introducing a brand-new champion.
How to Participate in the 2XKO Closed Beta
For those eager to experience 2XKO early, the exclusive, invite-only closed beta is your chance. Much like Riot’s popular free-to-play FPS, Valorant, invitations are primarily extended to players who have previously joined the Alpha Lab playtests. If you know a friend who participated in these earlier tests, they might have a referral link to share, offering you a pathway into the beta.
Currently, the 2XKO closed beta is a PC-exclusive event. However, developers have confirmed that the game will support cross-progression, meaning any achievements you earn will transfer to your chosen console upon the full release. It’s important to note that progress from this specific closed beta will not carry over to the final game. Should the closed beta expand to other platforms in the future, the possibility of transferable player data exists, though no official confirmation has been made.
Excitingly, this beta marks Vi, the Piltover Enforcer’s, first playable appearance outside of Evo 2025. Adding to the fresh roster, Blitzcrank has also been unveiled as the game’s inaugural grappler champion, ready for action in the closed beta.
The closed beta offers a fantastic opportunity to master each character through a dedicated tutorial mode. Here, you can review every champion’s moves before heading into combat. Then, take your newfound knowledge to the training mode, which includes a detailed command list and a sophisticated bot system, perfect for honing your combos before challenging live opponents.
The initial 2XKO Alpha Labs playtest took place from August 8-19. While cross-regional matches were not enabled during this test, there’s a strong possibility this feature will be introduced in subsequent testing phases.
Riot Games recently addressed community feedback from the Alpha Labs playtests in a Dev Chat video. Players had raised concerns about overly long combos, “touch-of-death” combos, and network stability. The developers swiftly responded, assuring that combo issues would be tackled in the upcoming playtest, and ongoing work is being done to refine the netcode.
Catch the Action: 2XKO Trailers
Riot has released a helpful “How to Play 2XKO” video, offering players a concise overview of the game’s core mechanics, covering attack fundamentals, defensive maneuvers, and the unique “Fuse” system.
At EVO 2023, we were treated to an initial glimpse of 2XKO’s first confirmed characters: Ahri, Yasuo, Darius, and Ekko. During a compelling 13-minute gameplay showcase, observant fans noted that each fighter was independently controlled. While 2XKO supports two players controlling both characters on a single team, this was our inaugural look at the game being played by four individual participants.
February 2024 brought the official announcement: Project L would henceforth be known as 2XKO. This reveal came with a thrilling one-minute clip, offering a fresh look at the game in action.
Mastering the Battle: 2XKO Gameplay Deep Dive
2XKO has undergone significant evolution, notably transforming into a dynamic 2v2 tag-team fighter. The game made its public debut at Evo 2024, the premier fighting game tournament, before becoming accessible to a wider audience through the Alpha Lab playtest system.
Veterans of 2D fighting games will find many of 2XKO’s core mechanics instantly recognizable. Each champion boasts a unique set of attack abilities, influenced by their current position (on the ground or in the air) and targeting. While offensive strategies are key, players also have a robust suite of defensive options, including counterattacks and blocking. As highlighted in the “Introducing Duo Play” dev diary, 2XKO is fundamentally a 2v2 team-based fighting experience.
As revealed in the initial gameplay teaser, Riot is embracing the “easy to learn, difficult to master” philosophy. This means a smooth learning curve, allowing players to jump in with new characters without needing to memorize extensive combo lists. Concurrently, the developers are crafting 2XKO with a strong competitive spirit, ensuring a high skill ceiling for dedicated expert players.
Seamless Teamwork: The 2XKO Assist and Tag System
A “Basics & Tag” developer diary video detailed 2XKO’s “assist-based fighter game” design, where players choose two champions to form a team. This setup includes a “Point” champion, who serves as the primary combatant, and an “Assist” character, ready to jump in and support during battles.
Riot Games has unveiled three distinct tag actions:
- Assist Actions: These unique character abilities are the backbone of the tag system. Even when your Assist is off-screen, this skill calls them into the fray. Holding the button allows for a more potent Charged Assist Action.
- The Handshake Tag: This move seamlessly swaps the roles of your Point and Assist characters, provided both are actively on the screen.
- The Dynamic Save: A crucial defensive maneuver, this calls your Assist to interrupt an opponent’s combo, rescuing your Point champion – unless your Dynamic Save is strategically countered.
The versatility of the Handshake Tag suggests that every 2XKO champion can adapt to either the Point or Assist role, though some may naturally excel in specific combat scenarios.
Meet the Fighters: The 2XKO Character Roster
While currently modest compared to other 2v2 fighting games, the 2XKO roster has room to grow before its full launch next year. Riot Games is dedicated to crafting a unique playstyle for each character. For a deeper dive into all the confirmed fighters and their abilities, consult our comprehensive 2XKO characters guide.
Here’s the full list of confirmed 2XKO characters so far:
- Blitzcrank
- Vi
- Braum
- Ekko
- Darius
- Ahri
- Illaoi
- Yasuo
- Jinx
Though adapted for the fighting game format, early footage reveals 2XKO champions wielding moves that clearly echo their iconic League of Legends abilities. For instance, Ekko manipulates time with his Chronostrike rewind, leaving a ghostly after-image to warp back to. Illaoi’s gameplay showcases her as a powerful “big body” character, dominating the arena with her signature tentacle attacks.
Flawless Fights: 2XKO’s Advanced Netcode
For a competitive title like 2XKO, superior netcode is paramount to a seamless gameplay experience. Riot guarantees an exceptionally responsive system, aiming for an offline-like feel through advanced rollback netcode, further bolstered by Riot Direct, their proprietary network infrastructure. Crucially, 2XKO will utilize dedicated servers, avoiding the lag-prone peer-to-peer connections often found in other fighting games.
Latest Buzz: 2XKO News and Developments
Riot Games officially unveiled its League of Legends fighting game in 2019, though the announcement came as little surprise. Roughly three years earlier, Riot had acquired Radiant Entertainment, a studio renowned for its fighting game expertise. Radiant Entertainment had previously developed a brawler named Rising Thunder, but its full release was ultimately canceled after Riot’s acquisition while the game was still in alpha.
The first public demonstration of 2XKO occurred in 2021. Despite impressive progress, game director Cannon stated the game wouldn’t launch in “2021 or 2022.” An August 2022 development update further clarified that the team was “finishing up work on core mechanics” and shifting focus to champion development, social functionalities, and competitive gameplay.
Riot has officially confirmed that 2XKO will be a free-to-play title, aligning with Cannon’s vision to make the game accessible to all players, regardless of budget. It’s highly probable that 2XKO will incorporate microtransactions for cosmetics and new champion unlocks, mirroring the model used in League of Legends. The Alpha Lab breakdown offered a glimpse into the game’s battle pass system, showcasing various new skins.
During Evo 2024, Cannon reiterated that DLC characters would be unlockable without any monetary cost. This suggests a character acquisition system similar to Valorant or League of Legends, where dedicated players can readily unlock new champions through gameplay.
On September 4, 2024, Riot Games teased Jinx’s impending arrival by updating their social media avatars with distinct graffitied blue and black versions. Though long rumored for the original roster, Jinx had not previously appeared in any playable demos. The 2XKO Brazil X account later shared a brief gameplay clip, promising more Jinx action on November 11.
Vi was officially announced as the newest champion to join the 2XKO roster on July 22, 2025. Following her debut at Evo 2025, she will also be playable in the September 2XKO beta. Blitzcrank, revealed as the game’s first grappler champion on September 2, 2025, will similarly be available in the upcoming closed beta.
Riot Games declared on September 23 that 2XKO would enter early access on October 7, 2025. Just nine days later, the mischievous Teemo was unveiled as the tenth champion slated to join the roster, ready for players to control upon the early access launch.
You’re now up-to-date on all the known details regarding the 2XKO release. While you await its arrival, why not explore our recommendations for the best multiplayer games to help pass the time? Or perhaps delve into some of the greatest PC games ever made!